Best of the best celebrated at TAA awards

Australia’s leading accommodation hotels and outstanding employees were recognised at the Tourism Accommodation Australia 2013 National Awards for Excellence in Canberra.

Held in the nation’s capital for the first time to celebrate Canberra’s centenary, more than 450 hotel industry leaders, hoteliers, special guests, diplomats and parliamentarians attended the annual awards event at Hotel Realm to celebrate all aspects of Australia’s vibrant hotel and hospitality sector.

Top honours this year went to the following venues:

• Park Hyatt Sydney (Sydney NSW) – Overall Hotel of the Year

• Hotel Realm (ACT) – Best Meeting and Events Venue

• Parmelia Hilton Perth (WA) – Outstanding Achievement in Training.

Tourism Accommodation Australia chairman Tony South said the awards hailed accommodation hotels that demonstrated outstanding services, accommodation, entertainment, food and beverage.

“The 162 national finalists were winners of their respective AHA state and territory awards level. Winning a national AHA award is an outstanding achievement – and a tribute to the hard work and dedication of these hotels,” Mr South
said.

TAA also recognised the outstanding contributions made to the hotel industry by hard working employees including:

• Joint Winners 2013 Hotel Industry Rising Star Award – Timothy Hunt at Park Hyatt Sydney.

• Canberra employee Dixie Addison-Rolfe from the Diamant Hotel was a popular winner of the Front of House Employee of the Year.

• Maria Macri-Nosari at the Sydney Harbour Marriott – Employee Excellence in Service Award

To see all the winners, see below or visit http://www.aha.org.au

A full list of the 2013 AHA/TAA National Award winners:

2013 AHA National Award	Winner
Best Restaurant – Accommodation Division	Altitude Restaurant at Shangri-La Hotel Sydney
Best Redeveloped Hotel – Accommodation Division	SKYCITY Darwin
Best Marketed Hotel – Accommodation Division	Hotel Realm
Best Pub-Style Accommodation	Victoria Hotel
Best Pub-Style Accommodation	Daly Waters Historic Pub
Best Mid-Range Accommodation	Holiday Inn Sydney Airport
Best Resort-Style Accommodation	Saffire Freycinet
Best Suite/Apartment Hotel	East Hotel
Best Superior Accommodation	The Blackman – Art Series Hotels
Best Deluxe Accommodation	Park Hyatt Sydney
Chef of the Year	Bo Sorensen at Shangri-La Hotel Sydney
Front of House Employee of the Year	Dixie Addison-Rolfe at the Diamant Hotel
Employee Excellence in Service	Maria Macri-Nosari at the Sydney Harbour Marriott
Outstanding Achievement in Training	Parmelia Hilton Perth
Best Meeting and Events Venue	Hotel Realm
Hotel Industry Rising Star	Timothy Hunt at Park Hyatt Sydney
Best Environmental & Energy Efficiency Practice	Lakes Resort Hotel
Overall Hotel of the Year – Regional	Park Avenue Hotel Motel, Rockhampton
Overall Hotel of the Year – Accommodation Division	Park Hyatt Sydney

Image: Hotel Industry Rising Star Timothy Hunt with his award