A crowd of more than 1,500, representing the crème of Queensland hospitality, joined the QHA for the 30th year of its Awards for Excellence on Monday night.
Hundreds of finalists vied for recognition across 44 awards at the gala event.
Winner of Best Overall Hotel – Regional was Noel and Jane Jesberg’s Rix Hotel in Charters Towers, backing up a prize last year in the restaurant category with two more in 2023.
Best Overall Hotel – Metropolitan came from a field of many prior winners at the event. In 2023 it went to The Prince Consort in Fortitude Valley – the former Elephant, purchased by Sydney-based Tilley & Wills in early 2020, and relaunched in November that year.
The QHA’s most prestigious award of the evening, Hotelier of the Year, was handed to Tracy Hatch, owner of the Wellshot Hotel in Ilfracombe, which has earned a name for its unique brand of hospitality.
“The hotel is just a building,” said Hatch.
“It’s the people, the amazing staff – both past and present – and everything that is Ilfracombe that makes The Wellshot.”
Winners from the QHA Awards are now in the running for the Australian Hotels Association Awards for Excellence, set to take place this year in Adelaide, in November.
“These awards show that in almost every corner of our state there are world-class experiences,” boasted QHA CEO Bernie Hogan.
“We couldn’t be more pleased how our members continue to provide jobs, training, entertainment and above all, a sense of community to locals and visitors alike.”
FULL LIST OF WINNERS
Best Bistro – Metropolitan: Calamvale Hotel, Brisbane – McGuires Hotels
Best Bistro – Regional: Lighthouse Hotel, Burnett Heads
Best Deluxe Accommodation: The Langham, Gold Coast – Langham Hospitality Group
Best Detached Bottleshop: Full Moon Hotel on Bramble Bay, Bottlemart, Brisbane – NT Pubco
Best Draught Beer: Osbourne Hotel, Fortitude Valley, Kickon Group
Best Entertainment Venue: Sandstone Point Hotel, Sandstone Point – Comiskey Group
Best Environmental & Energy Efficiency Practise: Scenic Rim Brewery and Café, Stanthorpe
Best Family Dining: Logan Village Hotel, Logan – McGuires Hotels
Best Gaming Venue – Metropolitan: Shearers Arms Tavern, Ormeau
Best Gaming Venue – Regional: Porters Plainland Hotel, Plainland
Best Hotel Bar – Accommodation Division: Hotel X – Iris Rooftop, Fortitude Valley – Ghanem Group
Best Hotel Bar General Division – Metropolitan: Calamvale Hotel, Brisbane – McGuires Hotels
Best Hotel Bar General Division – Regional: The Rix Hotel, Charters Towers
Best Hotel Group Operator: Comiskey Group
Best Hotel Accommodation or Pub Style Accommodation: Mucka Pub, Muckadilla
Best Late Night Venue: Hey Chica!, Fortitude Valley – Hallmark Group
Best Marketed Hotel – Accommodation Division: The Langham, Gold Coast – Langham Hospitality Group
Best Marketed Hotel – General Division: Maggie May Supperclub, Newstead – Hallmark Group
Best Meeting & Events Venue: QT Gold Coast, Gold Coast – QT Gold Coast
Best Mid-Range Accommodation: BIG4 Sandstone Point, Sandstone Point – Comiskey Group
Best Outdoor/Non-Enclosed Facility: Seaview Hotel, Townsville – Irvin Hotel Group
Best Redeveloped Hotel – Accommodation Division: Hotel Indigo Brisbane City Centre, Brisbane – Vista Hospitality Group
Best Redeveloped Hotel – General Division: Jubilee Hotel, Fortitude Valley – TBH (Tony Burnett Hotels)
Best Restaurant – Accommodation Division: Yamagen – QT Gold Coast, Gold Coast – QT Gold Coast
Best Restaurant General Division – Metropolitan: Stanley, Brisbane – Howard Smith Wharves
Best Restaurant General Division – Regional: Beast & Barrel The Rix Hotel, Charters Towers
Best Retail Liquor Outlet: Harry Brown Eatons Hill Hotel, Brisbane – Comiskey Group
Best Sporting Entertainment Venue: Burleigh Town Hotel, Gold Coast – Aus Venue Co
Best Suite/Apartment Hotel: The Langham, Gold Coast – Langham Hospitality Group
Best Superior Accommodation: Hotel Indigo Brisbane City Centre, Brisbane – Vista Hospitality Group
Best TAB Licenced Venue: Caxton Hotel, Brisbane
Chef of the Year: Adam Lane – QT Gold Coast, Gold Coast – QT Gold Coast
Employee Excellence in Service – Accommodation Division: Bianca Melville – QT Gold Coast
Front of House Employee of the Year – Accommodation Division: Sasha Konnor – Hotel X, Fortitude Valley – InterContinental Hotels Group
Front of House Employee of the Year – General Division: Lucas Eckersley – Howard Smith Wharves, Brisbane
Hotel Industry Rising Star: Jinny Dinh – Meriton Suites Southport, Gold Coast – Meriton Property Services
Keno Outstanding Community Service & Achievement: Prince Consort Hotel, Fortitude Valley – Tilley & Willis Hotels
Outstanding Achievement in Training: Howard Smith Wharves, Brisbane
Responsible Service – Alcohol: The Alliance Hotel, Spring Hill
Responsible Service – Gaming: The Prince Consort Hotel, Fortitude Valley – Tilley & Willis Hotels
Overall Hotel of the Year – Accommodation: The Langham, Gold Coast – Langham Hospitality Group
Overall Hotel of the Year – Regional: The Rix Hotel, Charters Towers
Overall Hotel of the Year – Metropolitan: The Prince Consort Hotel, Fortitude Valley – Tilley & Willis Hotels
Hotelier of the Year: Tracy Hatch – Wellshot Hotel, Ilfracombe