Premier Peter Malinauskas MP joined more than a thousand guests at the 2026 AHA|SA Awards for Excellence at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Tuesday night.
In a demonstration of worth, nine hotels took out two or more awards, with the greatest spotlight falling on the Hurley Group’s $60 million Hotel Panorama, which officially opened in May.
Representing Peter and Jenny Hurley’s largest investment to date, the new build incorporates a diverse mix of hospitality experiences, including rooftop bar Wonderland and 77 accommodation rooms across three levels.
Atop the major prize, the newly opened Hotel was crowned as best Sporting Entertainment Venue, Outdoor or Non-Enclosed Facility – Metropolitan, and Retail Liquor Outlet, which it shared with Crown Inn Kingston.
“We are absolutely thrilled to take out Overall Hotel of the Year in the general division,” says GM Scott Oakley.
“The Panorama is the biggest project in the Hurley Hotel Group’s history, and I’m so proud that all our hard work and dedication has been recognised.”
AHA|SA CEO Anna Moeller made special mention of the new all-service hospitality venue.
“Hotel Panorama had everyone talking when it opened – and it hasn’t missed a beat. It has aced every element of a modern Australian hospitality experience, bringing accommodation, dining, entertainment and events together in one impressive destination.”
In a big night for the group, the Hurley’s Arkaba Hotel, which has further expanded its offering, backed up its win for Hotel of the Year – Metropolitan at the 2025 National AHA Awards with two more accolades, for Best Meeting & Events Venue and Best Entertainment Venue.
With 80 per cent of live music acts in South Australia now performed in hotels, the Best Live Music Venue Award was won by The Gov, already a Hall of Famer, which has continued to nurture talent and champion the live music scene, hosting over 500 gigs for more than 100k guests, achieving 47 sell-out events, in the past 12 months alone.
Another big winner was Dean Group’s Kincraig Hotel. Since Tim Dean acquired the 1930-built pub in late 2024 the group has transformed it into a landmark country hospitality destination.
For this they took titles for the best Bistro Casual Dining – Country, Redeveloped Hotel – Country, Deluxe Pub Accommodation, and major award of Best Regional Hotel.
Demonstrating stiff competition, Best Redeveloped Hotel – Metropolitan was a tie between Lockleys Hotel and COLAC Port Adelaide, which also took home Bistro Casual Dining – Outer Metropolitan.
In the increasingly important Accommodation Division, the award was taken for an incredible fourth year in a row by Mount Lofty House, named Best Overall Hotel SA.
AHA|SA President David Basheer says the state’s hotels and pubs are both the “heartbeat of the community and the lifeblood of the visitor economy”.
“They have invested in their pubs and in their people. Without exception, each venue has risen above soaring business costs to set new levels of excellence.”
All winners from the AHA|SA awards are automatically finalists in the AHA National Awards, scheduled for 30 November.
Full list of Winners
Draught Beer Quality: COLAC Port Adelaide
WT Spurr Award AO for Tourism & Regional Promotion: Hotel Renmark
Deluxe Pub Accommodation: Kincraig Hotel
Apartment/Suite Accommodation: Durham Serviced Apartments
Mid-Range Hotel Accommodation: Marion Hotel
Superior Hotel Accommodation: Adelaide Oval
Deluxe Hotel Accommodation: Adelaide Marriott Hotel
Luxury Hotel Accommodation: Sequoia Lodge
Bar Presentation & Experience – Accommodation Division: Noky at the Henty
Bar Presentation & Experience – Country: Loxton Hotel
Bar Presentation & Experience – Metropolitan: COLAC Port Adelaide
Retail Liquor Outlet: Crown Inn Kingston – JOINT WINNER
Retail Liquor Outlet: Hotel Panorama – JOINT WINNER
Outdoor or Non-Enclosed Facility – Country: Loxton Hotel
Outdoor or Non-Enclosed Facility – Metropolitan: Hotel Panorama
Family Dining: Payneham Tavern
Bistro Casual Dining – Country: Kincraig Hotel
Bistro Casual Dining – Inner Metropolitan: East End Cellars
Bistro Casual Dining – Outer Metropolitan: COLAC Port Adelaide
Restaurant Accommodation Division: Mount Lofty House
Restaurant General Division – Country: Hotel Renmark
Restaurant General Division – Metropolitan: 2KW Bar & Restaurant
Meeting & Events Venue – Specialist Division: Adelaide Oval
Meeting & Events Venue – Accommodation Division: Crowne Plaza Mawson Lakes
Meeting & Events Venue – General Division: Arkaba Hotel
Chef of the Year – Accommodation Division: Alessandro Mangione – Mount Lofty House
Chef of the Year – General Division: Matthew Sherriff – Strathmore Hotel
Employee Excellence in Service – Accommodation Division: Ryan Nguyen – Crowne Plaza Mawson Lakes
Employee Excellence in Service – General Division: Tim Moseley – COLAC Port Adelaide
Hotel Industry Rising Star – Accommodation Division: Adrian Cerbo – Sofitel Adelaide
Hotel Industry Rising Star – General Division: Taylor Dowd – Marryatville Hotel
Outstanding Achievement in Training: Adelaide Oval
Community Service & Support: Vine Inn Barossa
TAB Licenced Venue: Morphett Arms Hotel
Sporting Entertainment Venue: Hotel Panorama
Entertainment Venue: Arkaba Hotel
Live Music Venue: The Gov
Marketing & Promotion – Accommodation Division: Sofitel Adelaide
Marketing & Promotion – General Division: Warradale Hotel
Innovation, Sustainability & Energy Efficiency Practice: Penneshaw Pub
Gaming Venue – Country: Middelton Tavern
Gaming Venue – Metropolitan: Lockleys Hotel
Redeveloped Hotel – Accommodation Division: Atura Adelaide Airport
Redeveloped Hotel – Country: Kincraig Hotel
Redeveloped Hotel – Metropolitan: COLAC Port Adelaide – JOINT WINNER
Redeveloped Hotel – Metropolitan: Lockleys Hotel – JOINT WINNER
Overall Hotel – Accommodation Division: Mount Lofty House
Overall Hotel – Country : Kincraig Hotel
Overall Hotel – General: Hotel Panorama
