Victoria’s hospitality royalty gathered this week to celebrate the AHA’s 2019 Awards for Excellence, witnessing impressive achievements and St Kilda’s iconic Espy proving runaway sweetheart of the night.
The gala event on Tuesday at The Palladium at Crown gathered 1,250 guests and professionals to acknowledge the best and most hospitable across 41 categories (full list of winners below).
One high-performer was the Grovedale Hotel, taking a Regional trio for Best Pub Bar, Best Casual Dining, and the Ian Larkinaward for Overall Hotel of the Year – Regional.
There was strong competition in the food awards, as Lorne Hotel – Movida claimed the coveted Best Pub Restaurant – Regional, and Malvern Hotel served up Best Pub Restaurant – Metropolitan, with AVC’s Dylan Kemp taking the hotly-contested Chef of the Year.
This its fourth year, the popular People’s Choice Award was open to all nominees, and amid a reported record number of votes, the winner of the 2019 AHA (Vic) People’s Choice Award was San Remo Hotel Motel.
Another crowd favourite of the evening is the Nikakis Award, established 1997 in memory of Nick Nikakis, which “recognises an individual or organisation who by their sustained performance and commitment serve as an inspiration to all in the industry”. The 2019 recipient of the honour was Bob O’Kane from the All Nations Hotel in Richmond.
The AHA Victoria Awards have been running since the 1980s, and a prophetic prize is awarded to someone seen as the Emerging Leader of the Year. This year the encouragement went to Oska Jarvis-White, from Sand Hill Road’s Hotel Esplanade. This brings with it the Peter Burnett AM Scholarship for Hospitality Excellence – a joint Victorian Government and AHA (Vic) initiative providing $10k for training and experience.
The Esplanade – having stood sentry on the shores of St Kilda for 141 years – was meticulously restored in 2018 by the pioneering Melbourne pub group.
This was clearly recognised at the night of Excellence, ‘The Espy’ taking the titles for Best Redeveloped Hotel – Food & Beverage, Best Specialty Bar, Best Live Entertainment Venue (joint winner), and the major prize, Overall Hotel of the Year – Metropolitan.
Sand Hill Road also took the team trophy for Best Hotel Group Operator.
SHR director Andy Mullins says the accolades say so much about so many.
“The awards were amazing … we’re totally blown away … but they aren’t ever about one venue, or one group of partners, or one particular moment in time.
“For us, they’re about 20 years of driving super-hard with the thousands of people who’ve made up our staff groups, our customers, our suppliers, our architects and our builders, to make the experience of hospitality a great one and unique one.
“We’ve never chased awards – but it’s really bloody nice when they come your way, for sure!”
FULL LIST OF WINNERS
Nikakis Award:
Bob O’Kane (All Nations Hotel)
Overall Performance
Ian Larkin Overall Hotel of the Year – Regional
Grovedale Hotel
Overall Hotel of the Year – Metropolitan
Hotel Esplanade (St Kilda)
Individual Employee Awards
Chef of the Year
Dylan Kemp – Australian Venue Co
Excellence in Service
David Gearing – Zagame’s Boronia Club Hotel
Emerging Leader of the Year
Oska Jarvis-White – Hotel Esplanade (St Kilda)
Dining Awards
Parma of the Year
Temperance Hotel (South Yarra)
Grovedale Hotel
Best Casual Dining – Metropolitan
Mr McCracken (Essendon Fields)
Best Family Dining
Wheelers Hill Hotel
Best Pub Restaurant – Regional
Lorne Hotel – Movida
Best Pub Restaurant – Metropolitan
Malvern Hotel
Grovedale Hotel
Best Pub Bar – Metropolitan
Botanical Hotel (South Yarra) & St Andrews Hotel (Fitzroy)
Gaming and Wagering Awards
Best PubTAB – Regional
Zagame’s Ballarat Hotel
Best PubTAB – Metropolitan
Kealba Hotel
Best Gaming Venue with 50 Machines of Less – Regional
Somerville Hotel
Best Gaming Venue with 50 Machines of Less – Metropolitan
Cardinia Park Hotel(Beaconsfield)
Best Gaming Venue with 51 Machines of More – Regional
Zagame’s Ballarat Hotel
Best Gaming Venue with 51 Machines of More – Metropolitan
Lower Plenty Hotel
Best Keno Venue – Regional
San Remo Hotel Motel
Best Keno Venue – Metropolitan
Welcome Stranger Hotel (Melbourne)
General Awards
Best Outdoor Experience
Notting Hill Hotel
Best Function And Event Space
Taylors Lakes Hotel
Best Rooftop Experience
The Albion Rooftop & Club
Best Hotel Accommodation
Taylors Lakes Hotel
Best Hotel – Pub Style Accommodation
Yea Peppercorn Hotel (Yea)
Best Innovative Retail Space
Queenscliff Brewhouse
Best Sports Bar – Regional
Murphys Geelong
Best Sports Bar – Metropolitan
Rosstown Hotel (Carnegie)
Best Specialty Bar
Hotel Esplanade (St Kilda)
Best Presented Beer
Botanical Hotel (Bendigo)
Best Environmental Initiative
Marlo Hotel
Best Redeveloped Hotel – Food & Beverage
Hotel Esplanade (St Kilda)
Best Redeveloped Hotel – Gaming
Beretta’s Langwarrin Hotel
Best Hotel Group Operator
Sand Hill Road
Outstanding Achievement in Training
True South (Black Rock)
Performance Awards
People’s Choice Award
San Remo Hotel Motel
Best Marketed Hotel
Harlow (Richmond)
Best Live Entertainment Venue
Corner Hotel (Richmond) & Hotel Esplanade (St Kilda)
Heart of the Community
Kelly’s Motor Club Hotel (Cranbourne)