Monday 1 June saw Queensland’s hotel and hospitality sector celebrated at the Queensland Hotels Association (QHA) 2026 Awards for Excellence, with the theme this year of ‘Iconic Pub Games’.
A record-breaking 443 nominations were submitted across 47 categories for this year’s awards, which showcase the outstanding achievements and emerging talent within the sector.
Overall Hotel of the Year (Metropolitan) was awarded to The Full Moon Hotel in Sandgate, while Mayfair Ridge Tavern in Emerald scooped the Overall Hotel of the Year (Regional) award.
One of the evening’s biggest winners was the Comiskey Group, taking home seven awards including both Best Retail Liquor Outlet and Best Entertainment for their Eatons Hill Hotel.
The Best Hotel or Pub-Style Accommodation award went to the Comiskey Group’s The Imperial Hotel Boutique Accommodation, located in Eumundi, however the highlights for the family-run group were the prizes for Best Group Operator and brothers David and Robert Comiskey jointly named the top hotelier.
“It was an amazing night,” Robert told PubTIC.
“I’m absolutely humbled to share Hotelier of the Year with my brother, David – a very special moment for the whole family.”
Other highlights included: Burleigh Town Hotel entering the Hall of Fame as the Best Sporting Entertainment Venue; Best Metropolitan Hotel Bar for Jim’s Bait & Tackle at The Full Moon Hotel; Best Regional Hotel Bar going to Somerset’s The Linville Hotel, and the Best Redeveloped Hotel being awarded to East Brisbane’s Lord Stanley Hotel.
Bernie Hogan, QHA Chief Executive said the awards are an opportunity to honour who work tirelessly to make locals and visitors alike feel welcome.
“These awards serve to highlight not only the incredible geographic reach of Queensland’s hospitality sector but the multitude of venues and services it encompasses,” he said.
“Luxury Gold Coast resorts that welcome guests from across the world, like The Mondrian, The Langham and JW Marriott, shared the spotlight with those regional pubs that are the heart and soul of the communities they serve, including Ilfracombe’s Wellshot Hotel as well as The Linville Hotel and Porters Plainland Hotel.”
Recipients in selected categories will now advance to the 2026 Australian Hotels Association (AHA) National Awards for Excellence, to be held on 30 November.
Full list of Winners
Hall of Fame
Best Retail Liquor Outlet: Eatons Hill Hotel
Best Restaurant – Accommodation Division: Yamagen, QT Gold Coast
Best Suite/Apartment Hotel: The Langham, Gold Coast
Best Sporting Entertainment Venue: Burleigh Town Hotel
Overall Awards
Overall Hotel of the Year – Regional: Mayfair Ridge Tavern (Emerald)
Overall Hotel of the Year – Accommodation: JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa
Overall Hotel of the Year – Metropolitan: The Full Moon Hotel (Sandgate)
Hotelier of the Year: David Comiskey & Robert Comiskey
Accommodation Division
Best Hotel or Pub-Style Accommodation: The Imperial Hotel Boutique Accommodation (Eumundi)
Best Restaurant – Accommodation: Homage, Spicers Hidden Vale (Grandchester,
Ipswich)
Best Marketed Hotel – Accommodation: JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa
Best Mid-Range Accommodation: Four Points by Sheraton Brisbane
Best Redeveloped Hotel – Accommodation: DoubleTree by Hilton Cairns
Best Suite/Apartment Hotel: Meriton Suites Surfers Paradise
Best Superior Accommodation: Crystalbrook Flynn (Cairns)
Best Deluxe Accommodation: Spicers Peak Lodge (Maryvale, Scenic Rim)
Best Hotel Bar – Accommodation: Fiume Rooftop Bar, Crystalbrook Vincent
(Fortitude Valley, Brisbane)
Best Lifestyle/Resort Accommodation: JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa
General Division
Best Hotel Bar – Metropolitan: Jim’s Bait & Tackle, The Full Moon Hotel (Sandgate)
Best Hotel Bar – Regional: The Linville Hotel (Somerset)
Best Entertainment Venue: Eatons Hill Hotel
Best Restaurant – Metropolitan: CIAO, Howard Smith Wharves
Best Restaurant – Regional: The Rock Toowoomba
Best Outdoor Non-Enclosed Facility: Alphonsus Pizza Courtyard, The Glen Hotel
(Eight Mile Plains, Brisbane)
Best Bistro – Regional: Porters Plainland Hotel
Best Bistro – Metropolitan: Dakabin Hotel
Best Family Dining: Mayfair Ridge Tavern (Emerald)
Best Retail Liquor Outlet: Bottlemart Walloon, Walloon Hotel
Best Detached Bottleshop: The Reserve Cellar, Wilston
Best Sporting Entertainment Venue: Orion Hotel (Springfield Central)
Best Redeveloped Hotel – General: Lord Stanley Hotel (East Brisbane)
Best Gaming Venue – Metropolitan: Tingalpa Hotel
Best Gaming Venue – Regional: Porters Plainland Hotel
Best TAB Licensed Venue: Broadbeach Tavern
Best Marketed Hotel – General: Cloudland (Fortitude Valley, Brisbane)
Best Draught Beer: Archive (West End, Brisbane)
Individual Awards
Chef of the Year: Hamish Watt, The Fireplace, InterContinental Sanctuary Cove
Resort
Front of House Employee of the Year – General Division: Hugo Winten, Felons
Brewing Co, Howard Smith Wharves
Front of House Employee of the Year – Accommodation Division: Phoebe Cox, W
Brisbane
Employee Excellence in Service – General Division: Vania Su, The Prince Consort
Employee Excellence in Service – Accommodation Division: Kayne Camara, RACV
Royal Pines Resort
Hotel Industry Rising Star: Zoe Godde, AusVenueCo
Performance Awards
Best Environmental & Energy Efficiency Practice: Green Island Resort (Far North
Queensland)
Keno Outstanding Community Service & Achievement – General: Wellshot Hotel
(Ilfracombe)
Keno Outstanding Community Service & Achievement – Accommodation: Mondrian
Gold Coast
Best Tourism Initiative: Howard Smith Wharves
Best Meeting & Events Venue: Mondrian Gold Coast
Outstanding Achievement in Training: The Full Moon Hotel (Sandgate)
Best Hotel Group Operator: Comiskey Group
Responsible Service – Gaming: Porters Plainland Hotel
Responsible Service – Alcohol: Osbourne Hotel (Fortitude Valley, Brisbane)
