Accor has been named the Accommodation Chain of the Year for the third consecutive year at the 2024 HM Awards for Hotel and Accommodation Excellence.

The awards were held on Friday 29 November at ICC Sydney, presented by Sealy Posturepedic.

The category is one of the industry’s most prestigious accolades, voted exclusively by the heads of hotel groups across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, recognising outstanding leadership and excellence in hospitality.

“To receive this award is a tremendous honour and a reflection of the exceptional talent and commitment of our people at Accor,” Accor COO (PM&E, Pacific) Adrian Williams said.

“We love what we do, and this recognition is not only a testament to the respect our industry peers have for us but also highlights the privilege we have in working alongside our owners and partners, whose trust and collaboration are key to our continued success. We are deeply humbled by this acknowledgment.”

Along with the award, Accor celebrated further success on the night with a remarkable 12 additional wins, recognising its properties, team members and initiatives.

Accor’s commitment to sustainability was celebrated with the Environmental Program award for its sustainable tourism certification program across the Pacific region.

It was also a triumphant night for Accor’s many property award winners:

• Sofitel Queenstown Hotel and Spa was named New Zealand Hotel of the year.
• Hotel Morris Sydney – Handwritten Collection was a joint winner in the Midscale Hotel category.
• Novotel Wollongong Northbeach was recognised as a joint winner in the Meetings & Conferencing Property category.
• Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant at Mount Lofty House won Hotel Restaurant.
• Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour shared the title of Tech Hotel of the year.

Accor team members were also honoured for their exceptional contributions on the night

• Accor Pacific Talent & Culture Executive, Georgia Mayne, was celebrated as one of the industry’s Rising Stars for 2024.
• Juin an Lin from Pullman Sydney Olympic Park and Cameron Tabe from The Playford Adelaide – MGallery jointly won Hotel Chef of the year.
• Brian Hansen from Pullman Sydney Hyde Park was named Front Office Associate of the Year.
• Daniele Campo from The Porter House Hotel Sydney – MGallery took home the award for Food and Beverage Associate of the year.
• Bethany Flynn from Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains – MGallery Collection won the Human Resources Associate category.

Earlier in the month, New Zealand and the South Pacific’s leading properties and people were recognised at the inaugural HM Awards Aotearoa-Pacific gala ceremony. Winners included:

• Novotel Hamilton Tainui was named the New Zealand Regional Property of the year.
• Te Arikinui Pullman Auckland Airport won the New Zealand Upscale Hotel category.
• Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa was awarded Fijian Luxury Resort of the year.
• Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa’s diamond jubilee campaign took out the Marketing Campaign category.
• Alice Parimbelli from ibis Wellington jointly won the Food and Beverage Associate award.
• Genny Kim from Mövenpick Hotel Auckland was named a joint winner of the Human Resources Associate award.
• Brooke Jolly from Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa, and Claire Simpson from Hotel St Moritz Queenstown – MGallery Collection were both named Front Office Associate of the year.
• Rahul Pereira from Accor Managed CP Hotels New Zealand co-won the Revenue Management Associate category.
• Amanda Miyagusuku from Novotel Queenstown Lakeside was celebrated as one of New Zealand’s Rising Stars.

“It is an absolute honour to see Sofitel and MGallery recognised for their outstanding achievements at this year’s HM Awards,” Accor Pacific Vice president operations – Sofitel, MGallery & Emblems, David Fraser said.

“These accolades reflect the exceptional dedication and innovations of our teams and I couldn’t be prouder of their accomplishments.”