Australian Hotels Association Hospitality Awards / special feature
Industry’s night salutes its brightest and best FOUR hundred industry leaders came together for the 2012 Australian Hotels Association’s annual Hospitality Awards night, this year held at the Hotel Realm.
“The 34 awards recognise standards of excellence in the ACT hotel and hospitality industry,” AHA ACT general manager Gwyn Rees said. “In the last year, we have seen some great new venues open, refurbishment of wellloved locations, and providers, such as those damaged by the fire at New Acton, who have
triumphed over tragedy. “People living and visiting the ACT certainly have an almost unlimited choice of great hotels and hospitality venues offering quality food, beverage and service.” He said many of the winners will go on to represent the ACT at the AHA National Awards for Excellence in September.
Winners were chosen following a nomination process and assessment program, which includes independent judges visiting each venue and testing against national criteria. “I would like to commend all of the winners,” Mr Rees said. “Not only have they performed outstandingly but they have done so during a time when businesses have never
faced such increasing scrutiny, regulation and red tape. “In the accommodation sector we have Burbury and the soon-to-open East Hotel; funky new bars like Public, La De Da and Honkytonks; and the amazing refurbishments of Urban Pantry, The Artisan, Soju Girl and Sage.”
Award winners and finalists The full list of the 34 winners and all nominees in the 2012 ACT Australian Hotels Association’s Hospitality Awards: John Press Award: Winner – Sasha Trpovski, Honkytonks & Hippo Bar Member of the Year: Winner – Doma Hotels Best Family Restaurant: Winner – Caph’s Café Bar Best International Cuisine: Nominees – Taze’ Mediterranean Cuisine, Italian & Sons. Winner – Italian & Sons Best Prestigous Restaurant: Nominees – Mezzalira Ristorante, The Artisan Restaurant, Sage Dining Rooms. Winner – Sage Dining Rooms Best Modern Australian Restaurant: Nominees – Kingsley’s Steak & Crabhouse, Pistachio Dining at Torrens, The Kennedy Room, Public. Winner – Pistachio Dining Best Restaurant (Informal – Overall): Nominees – Kingsley’s Steak & Crabhouse, Pistachio Dining at Torrens, Taze’ Mediterranean Cuisine, The Kennedy Room, Italian & Sons, Public. Winner – Italian & Sons Best Pub Bistro: Nominees – Mooseheads Pub & Nightclub, The Durham Castle Arms, The George Harcourt Inn, King O’Malleys, Ha Ha Bar, Edgars Inn. Winner – The George Harcourt Inn Best Wine List: Nominees – The George Harcourt Inn, The Artisan Restaurant, Mezzalira Ristorante, Italian & Sons, Honkytonks, Public. Winner – The George Harcourt Inn Best Bar Presentation & Service: Nominees – Mooseheads Pub & Nightclub, The Durham Castle Arms, The Kennedy Room, King O’Malleys, Honkytonks, Kremlin Bar, Edgars Inn, Hippo Bar, Sub-Urban, Northbar, ICBM, Public, Mint Garden Bar. Winner – Public. Highly commended – Honkytonks Best Cocktail Bar: Nominees – Kremlin Bar, La De Da, Hippo Bar, Northbar. Winner – Kremlin Bar Best Local: Nominees – The George
Harcourt Inn, Edgars Inn, Ha Ha Bar, Mint Garden Bar. Winner – Edgars Inn Best New/Re-developed Venue (General Division): Nominees – Sage Dining Rooms, Honkytonks, La De Da, Soju Girl, Public. Winner – Public. Highly commended – Honkytonks Best Late Night Entertainment Venue: Nominees – Mooseheads Pub & Nightclub, Academy Nightclub, Transit Bar, ICBM, Meche. Winner – Academy Nightclub Best Live Entertainment Venue: Nominees – Mooseheads Pub & Nightclub, King O’Malley’s, Sub-Urban, Transit Bar. Winner – Transit Bar Best Sporting Entertainment Area: Nominees – The Durham Castle Arms, Statesman Hotel Motel, King O’Malley’s, Edgar’s Inn, Sub-Urban Winner – SubUrban. Best Deluxe Accommodation: Nominees – Hotel Realm, Hyatt Hotel Canberra. Winner – Hotel Realm Best Superior Accommodation: Nominees – Diamant Hotel Canberra, Burbury Hotel. Winner – Diamant Hotel Canberra Best First Class Accommodation: Nominees – Belconnen Premier Inn, Quality Hotel Dickson, Quality Hotel Woden, The Brassey of Canberra, all seasons Canberra. Winner – Quality Hotel Dickson Best Mid-Range Accommodation: Nominees – Statesman Hotel Motel, Forrest Hotel and Apartments. Winner – Statesman Hotel Motel Best Suite/Apartment Hotel: Nominees – Clifton Suites on Northbourne, Forrest Hotel and Apartments. Winner – Clifton Suites on Northbourne Best Hotel Restaurant: Winner – Bicicletta, Diamant Hotel Canberra
Best Marketed Hotel: Nominees – Rydges Eagle Hawk Resort, Hyatt Hotel Canberra, Diamant Hotel Canberra, Burbury Hotel, Forrest Hotel and Apartments. Winner – Hyatt Hotel Canberra Best Meetings & Events Hotel: Nominees – Hotel Realm, Hyatt Hotel Canberra, Forrest Hotel and Apartments. Winner – Hotel Realm Best New/Re-developed Venue (Accommodation Division): Nominees – Quality Hotel Dickson, Burbury Hotel. Winner – Burbury Hotel Best Environmental Practice: Nominees – Rydges Eagle Hawke Resort, All Seasons Canberra. Winner – Rydges Eagle Hawke Resort Best Front of House Employee: Nominees – Alyssa from Rydges Eagle Hawk Resort, Alex from Hyatt Hotel Canberra, Matt from All Seasons Canberra, Erika from All Seasons Canberra, Kate from Quality Hotel Dickson. Winner – Erika Jurd, All Seasons Canberra Best Restaurant Service Employee: Nominees – Dexter from Hyatt Hotel Canberra, Michael from Caph’s Café Bar, Emily from Caph’s Café Bar. Winner – Dexter Mathais, Hyatt Hotel Canberra Best Restaurant Cookery Employee: Winner – Clement Chauvin, Sage Dining Rooms Best Apprentice Chef: Nominees – Jemma from Pistachio Dining at Torrens, John from All Seasons Canberra, Ashleigh from Hyatt Hotel Canberra. Winner – Jemma Patat, Pistachio Dining at Torrens. Best Bar Service Employee: Nominees – Duncan from Kremlin Bar, Richard from Mint Garden Bar, Russell from La De Da, Julia from Meche, Bryce from Northbar. Winner – Richard “Dick” Blanchard, Mint Garden Bar
Arthur and Shannon Schuster with Nicole and Daniel Rawson
Allen Lees and Leader of the Opposition Zed Seselja
MLA Brendan Smyth, Robyn Devin, MLA Jeremy Hansen and wife Fleur with Yasmin Burraston and MLA Alister Coe
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