Victoria’s best accommodation hotels honoured in TAA Awards
Victoria’s best accommodation hotels have been recognised at the 2016 Tourism Accommodation Australia (Victoria) Awards for Excellence.
The winners were announced at a gala dinner held last night at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne.
The dinner was attended by 550 accommodation hoteliers and hospitality industry leaders including the Victorian Government, Visit Victoria, City of Melbourne, Australian Grand Prix Corporation, Tennis Australia, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne Convention Bureau, Victoria Tourism Industry Council, Public Transport Victoria, Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, Melbourne International Film Festival and Destination Melbourne.
The “Outstanding Contribution to the Industry” award recognises a sustained contribution by a hotelier or industry leader who has made a significant contribution to Victoria’s tourism and accommodation industries. This year the awardee is Lord Mayor Robert Doyle. In his eight years as Lord Mayor of Melbourne, he has overseen Melbourne being named the world’s most liveable city for the fifth year running and has been an outstanding advocate for Melbourne to attract visitors, conferences, events and ultimately growth in the city’s accommodation sector and visitor economy.
Dunkeld’s Royal Mail Hotel has proven its pedigree and heritage by rising from the ashes of a devastating fire in 2013 to win the award for ‘Regional Accommodation of the Year’. The Royal Mail also won the award for ‘Regional Hotel Restaurant of the Year’ for The Royal Mail Dining Room.
While the hotel’s accommodation and restaurant were spared in the fire, the hotel’s Convention Centre – which was an essential part of the hotel’s (and region’s) business – was totally destroyed and only re-opened last year. The property dates back to the 1840s and provides an atmospheric gateway to the Grampians, a three-hour drive south west from Melbourne.
Hotel Industry Rising Star went to Annabelle Gibney from Pullman Melbourne on the Park.
Other winners honoured were:
Accommodation category award winners:
• Deluxe Accommodation Hotel of the Year – Crown Towers, Melbourne
• Apartment Accommodation of the Year – Citadines on Bourke Melbourne
• Superior Accommodation Hotel of the Year – PARKROYAL Melbourne Airport, Tullamarine
• Mid-Range Accommodation Hotel of the Year – The Swanston Hotel Melbourne, Grand Mercure
• Boutique Style Accommodation of the Year – Adelphi Hotel, Melbourne
• Resort Style Accommodation of the Year – Balgownie Estate Vineyard Resort and Spa, Yarra Glen
• Regional Accommodation of the Year – Royal Mail Hotel, Dunkeld
Specialty category – winners:
• Deluxe Restaurant of the Year – Park Hyatt Melbourne, radii restaurant & bar
• Hotel Restaurant (All Day Dining) of the Year – Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens, Melbourne, HQ’s on William
• Regional Hotel Restaurant of the Year – Royal Mail Hotel, Dunkeld, The Royal Mail Dining Room
• Hotel Bar of the Year – Sheraton Melbourne Hotel, Terrace Bar
• Hotel Club Lounge of the Year – Crown Towers, Melbourne
Individual excellence – winners:
• Administration Employee of the Year – Grand Hyatt Melbourne, Fil Ruberto
• Concierge of the Year – InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto, Paul Rumpff and Melbourne Marriott Hotel, Anthony Szostak
• Engineer and Maintenance Employee of the Year – Sofitel Melbourne on Collins, Tony Wischer
• Food and Beverage Services Employee of the Year – Silverwater Resort Phillip Island, Dan Child
• Front Office Services Employee of the Year – Pullman Melbourne on the Park, Sevag Keroghlian
• Hotel Industry Rising Star – Pullman Melbourne on the Park, Annabelle Gibney
• Housekeeper Employee of the Year – Crown Towers, Melbourne, Donna Musarella and Hilton Melbourne South Wharf, Vicki Curran
• Marketing & Public Relations Employee of the Year – The Langham Melbourne, Evan Hinrichsen
• Revenue Management Employee of the Year – The Hotel Windsor, Melbourne, Leah Hyndes
• Sales Employee of the Year – Balgownie Estate Vineyard Resort and Spa, Yarra Glen, Melanie Watson and Sofitel Melbourne on Collins, Conny Bartl
Property performance – winners:
• Best Environmental & Energy Efficiency Practice – Quality Hotel Downtowner on Lygon, Carlton
• Best Marketed Accommodation Provider – Grand Hyatt Melbourne
• Excellence in Innovation – Grand Hyatt Melbourne
• Outstanding Achievement in Training – Stamford Plaza Melbourne
• Outstanding Community Service & Achievement – Melbourne Marriott Hotel and Atura Hotel, Dandenong
Darryl Washington, General Manager of TAA (Vic) praised the finalists, award-winners and individuals who were honoured. “The TAA (Vic) Accommodation Awards for Excellence is a celebration of the diversity and success of metropolitan and regional Victorian accommodation providers. Melbourne and Victoria properties offer a world class and diverse selection of properties that cater well for our visitors. The industry constantly strives to raise the bar and again this year, the nominated properties, and in particular those that have been honoured at the 2016 TAA (Vic) Accommodation Awards for Excellence emphasise this point. Congratulations to finalists and in particular all winning accommodation providers.”
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