Around 1,100 guests and VIPs gathered last week at Crown Towers Perth to recognise this year’s winners at the Australian Hotels Association WA’s 2023 AHA-Aon Hospitality Awards for Excellence.
Ending months of deliberation, finalists narrowed down from 440 nominations vied for 41 awards across five categories, being Employee, Entertainment, Dining, General and Overall.
Taking top honours as Perth’s Best Hospitality Venue was The Claremont Hotel, while its Regional counterpart was the Treendale Farm Hotel. The gong for Group Venue Operator went to Tillbrook Melaleuka Group (TMG).
AHA(WA) CEO Bradley Woods states that the state’s hospitality industry has never been in a stronger position, boasting a rich assortment of quality hotels, bars, pubs, taverns and restaurants, meaning the award recipients do represent the “best of the best”.
“WA’s hospitality industry plays a key role in the state’s economy and is fundamental in shaping visitors’ perception of the state.
“The quality of the hospitality venues that are on offer across WA is at an all-time high, being propelled by industry standards that are being lifted, then exceeded, each year.”
FULL LIST OF WINNERS
OVERALL AWARDS
Perth’s Best Hospitality Venue: The Claremont Hotel
WA’s Best Regional Hospitality Venue: Treendale Farm Hotel (Hall of Fame)
Group Venue Operator Award: Tillbrook Melaleuka Group (TMG)
GENERAL AWARDS
Cocktail Bar Award: Terrarium, Perth
Small Bar Award (Joint winners): Bertie, Bassendean and Caballitos, Perth (Hall of Fame)
Outdoor Area Award: Victoria Park Hotel
Redeveloped Venue Award: The Claremont Hotel
New Venue Award: Froth Craft Bunbrewery, Bunbury
Boutique Brewery Award: Thorny Devil Brewery, Herron
Late Night Venue Award: Universal Bar, Perth (Hall of Fame)
Draught Beer Quality Award: Pirate Life Perth
The Lion Bar Presentation and Service Award: The Claremont Hotel
Community Service Award: Finlay’s Kalbarri
Training Initiative Award: Optus Stadium, Burswood
Retail Bottleshop Award: Cellarbrations Superstore – Treendale Farm Hotel, Australind (Hall of Fame)
Aon Responsible Service of Alcohol Award: Crown Perth, Burswood
Tourism Initiative Award: Mambakoort – The Marina Mindarie
Conference and Functions Award: Crown Perth, Burswood
Social Media Activity Award: NightOwl Entertainment Group
DINING AWARDS
Restaurant Award: The Shorehouse, Swanbourne
Superior Restaurant Award: Nobu – Crown Perth, Burswood
Wine List Award: The Shorehouse, Swanbourne
WA’s Best Steak Sandwich Award: North West Brewing Company
Contemporary Bar Menu Award: Market Grounds, Perth
Casual Pub Dining Award – Metropolitan: C.Y. O’Connor Village Pub, Piara Waters
Casual Pub Dining Award – Regional: Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
Family Dining Award: Treendale Farm Hotel, Australind (Hall of Fame)
ENTERTAINMENT AWARDS
Themed Venue Award: Lucky Chan’s Laundry & Noodle Bar, Northbridge
Live Entertainment Venue Award: Milkbar – Civic Hotel, Inglewood
Sporting Entertainment Venue Award: Patriots Sports Bar – Brass Monkey Hotel, Northbridge
TAB Hotel/PubTAB Venue Award: The Brook Bar & Bistro, Ellenbrook (Hall of Fame)
EMPLOYEE AWARDS
Bar Team Award: The Aviary Perth
Head Chef Award (Joint winners): Ashish Gagneja, Chakra Restaurant and Paul Beard, RAC Arena
Cocktail Bartender Award: David Xander Stucken, Terrarium Perth
Venue Manager Award (Joint winners): Sam Drury, Gosnells Hotel and Grant Humeston, Optus Stadium
Rising Star Award: Sam Spadek, Queens Tavern
Cookery Services Employee Award: ‘Shin’ Wei-Sin Chen, Settlers Tavern
Food and Beverage Services Employee Award: Wils Fountain, Odyssea
Front Office and Administration Employee Award: Debra Webb, Bailey Brewing Co.
PubTAB Operator Award: Mariah O’Brien, The Gate Bar & Bistro
Excellence in Service Award: Grant Fomison, Kailis Fishmarket Café
