Australia’s best in hospitality were named and honoured at the 2025 AHA National Awards for Excellence on Monday night, at the RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast.
More than 600 VIPs, guests and hospitality professionals enjoyed the presentation of awards in 47 categories, drawing 343 nominees from 260 venues.
The annual awards assemble all the state winners to recognise the spirit of Australian hospitality, creating safe, welcoming spaces for locals and visitors. Australian Hotels Association National President David Basheer lauded the resilience and innovation, praising hoteliers as they take risks, adapt, and “continue to raise the bar” across the country.
“The hospitality sector is not just about serving great food or pouring the perfect drink. It’s about creating experiences, connecting people, and building places where memories are made.
“Our hotels and pubs sit at the centre of towns and cities alike. They are meeting places, employers, and proud contributors to the social and economic fabric of Australia.”
South Australia made a strong showing, taking the gongs for both Overall Hotel of the Year – Regional at the Loxton Hotel, which also snatched Best Bar Presentation & Service, and Overall Hotel of the Year – Metropolitan for the Hurley’s rejuvenated Arkaba Hotel, which also took Best Entertainment Venue.
Victoria followed suit, with Melbourne-based JBS Hospitality claiming Best Hotel Group Operator, and Lockington Community Hotel – rescued from imminent closure by the Lockington community, which rallied and raised funds, working tirelessly to restore and revitalise the pub – being awarded Overall Hotel of the Year – Remote.
To the north, Lyon Majestic’s Oxford Hotel in Bathurst took home Best Redeveloped Hotel – General Division, only three weeks after earning the title at the NSW awards for 2025.
Owner Ash Lyons ditched approved plans to refurbish the hotel when COVID struck. Realising the needs of people and pubs would change, he sat inside with the lights off for hours until he visualised what he thought it should look like going forward.
It was actually the first time he had paused from running a high-paced hotel and truly contemplated what was needed, and he subsequently opted to go “above and beyond”. The result was a jaw-dropping creation by a family operation that edged out big-budget builds from corporates around the country.
“I was extremely happy with winning the state award,” says Lyons. “There was nothing I wanted more; to win was the highest pinnacle.
“So we went to the nationals with an open mind. It’s a big country, and it was quite surreal. To be recognised there is something quite extraordinary.”
Another deserved result was Chris Cheung’s Coogee Bay Hotel, which has been the driving force of millions of dollars raised for the Sydney Children’s Hospital, and was recognised for Outstanding Community Service and Achievement.
“So proud of our initiative and the Coogee Bay Hotel team to be recognised at the AHA National awards,” Cheung told PubTIC.
“The CBH team continues to live and breathe our community values, and make a difference.”
FULL LIST OF WINNERS
2025 MAJOR AWARD WINNERS
Overall Hotel of the Year – Remote: Lockington Community Hotel, Lockington, Victoria
Overall Hotel of the Year – Regional: Loxton Hotel, Loxton, South Australia
Overall Hotel of the Year – Metropolitan: Arkaba Hotel, Fullarton, South Australia
Overall Hotel of the Year – Accommodation Division: The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne , Melbourne, Victoria
Best Hotel Group Operator: JBS Hospitality
SPECIAL INDUSTRY HONOURS
Johnnie Walker Hall of Fame: Paul O’Brien – Red Rock Leisure
2025 FULL CATEGORY WINNERS – GROUPED BY THEME
OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Hotel Industry Rising Star – Accommodation Division: Sade Vasquez – Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, Sydney, New South Wales
Hotel Industry Rising Star – General Division: Matthew Bomford – St Albi, Moonah, Tasmania
Chef of the Year – General: Brendan Boothroyd – Duxton Pubs, Adelaide, South Australia
Chef of the Year – Accommodation: Pawan Dutta – The Royce, Melbourne, Victoria
Employee Excellence in Service – General Division: Morgan Gall – Sawyers Arms Tavern, Newtown, Victoria
Employee Excellence in Service – Accommodation Division – Commercial & Guest Experiences: Montana Daly – W Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales
Employee Excellence in Service – Accommodation Division – Leadership & Culture – Jennifer Brown, InterContinental Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales
Employee Excellence in Service – Accommodation Division – Operations & Support Services: Louise Nicdao – Batman’s Hill on Collins, Melbourne, Victoria
Front of House Employee of the Year – General Division: Soumi Tannous – Bar Beirut, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Front of House Employee of the Year – Accommodation Division: Duncan Morrison – Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park, Sydney, New South Wales
FOOD, BEVERAGE & DINING EXCELLENCE
Best Hotel Bar – Accommodation Division: McRae Bar – Capella Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales
Best Restaurant – Accommodation Division (Deluxe): Oncore by Clare Smyth – Crown Towers Sydney, Barangaroo, New South Wales
Best Restaurant – Accommodation Division (Mid-Range – Superior): Yamagen – QT Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise, Queensland
Best Bistro – Regional: Froth Craft Bunbrewery, Bunbury, Western Australia
Best Bistro – Metropolitan: The Prince, Kirrawee, New South Wales
Best Bar Presentation & Service – Regional: Loxton Hotel, Loxton, South Australia
Best Bar Presentation & Service – Metropolitan: Belgian Beer Cafe Melbourne, Southbank, Victoria
Best Family Dining: The Doonan, Doonan, Queensland
Best Restaurant – Regional: Penobscot Restaurant – Watervale Hotel, Watervale, South Australia
Best Restaurant – Metropolitan: St Andrews Hotel – Fitzroy, Victoria
Draught Beer Quality Award – Metropolitan: Bridie O’Reilly’s, South Yarra, Victoria
Draught Beer Quality Award – Regional: Nyngan Hotel, Nyngan, NSW
ACCOMMODATION EXCELLENCE
Best Mid-Range Accommodation: PARKROYAL Parramatta, Parramatta, New South Wales
Best Superior Accommodation: Oval Hotel, North Adelaide, South Australia
Best Deluxe Accommodation: The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria
Best Luxury Accommodation: Saffire Freycinet, Coles Bay, Tasmania
Best Lifestyle/Resort Style Accommodation: Mitchelton Hotel, Nagambie, Victoria
Best Hotel Accommodation – General Division: Hotel Sorrento, Sorrento, Victoria
Best Suite/Apartment Hotel: The Langham, Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise, Queensland
INVESTMENT, INNOVATION, SUSTAINABILITY & MARKETING
Best Redeveloped Hotel – General Division: The Oxford Bathurst, Bathurst, New South Wales
Best Redeveloped Hotel – Accommodation Division: Song Hotel Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales
Excellence in Innovation, Sustainability and Energy Efficiency Practice: Iron Creek Bay Estate, Sorell, Tasmania
Best Marketed Hotel – Accommodation Division: Novotel, Mercure & Ibis Darwin Airport, Eaton, Northern Territory
Best Marketed Hotel – General Division: Shoreline Hotel, Howrah, Tasmania
COMMUNITY, TRAINING & ACCESSIBILITY
Outstanding Community Service and Achievement: Coogee Bay Hotel, Coogee, New South Wales
Outstanding Achievement in Training: Paradox Sydney, Seven Hills, New South Wales
All Abilities Hotel – Accommodation Division: MACq01, Hobart, Tasmania
All Abilities Hotel – General Division: The Plough Inn, Launceston, Tasmania
ENTERTAINMENT, TOURISM & FACILITIES
Best Entertainment Venue: Arkaba Hotel, Fullarton, South Australia
Best Sporting Entertainment Venue: Burleigh Town Hotel, Burleigh, Queensland
Best Tourism Initiative: Sandstone Point Holiday Resort, Sandstone Point, Queensland
Best Outdoor/Non-Enclosed Facility: American Hotel Echuca, Echuca, Victoria
Best Meeting and Events Venue: Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort Port Douglas, Port Douglas, Queensland
Best Retail Liquor Outlet: Eatons Hill Hotel, Eatons Hill, Queensland
GAMING, TAB & WAGERING
Best Gaming Venue Regional: Beach House Hotel, Scarness, Queensland
Best Gaming Venue Metropolitan: Mail Exchange Hotel, Melbourne, Victoria
Best TAB Licensed Venue: Cremorne Hotel, Unley, South Australia
