Records were smashed at this year’s illustrious Accommodation Australia NSW Awards for Excellence as the state’s best properties and operators were celebrated before a crowd of more than 700 guests.

Attended by political leaders including NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy, Minister for Roads, Special Minister of State and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council The Hon. John Graham, MLC, VIP guests, and industry operators, the star-studded event was held at The Fullerton Hotel in Sydney’s CBD on Thursday, 18 July.

Celebrating 12 months since the formation of Accommodation Australia NSW, the event saw a record-breaking 354 finalists across 38 categories, including the newly launched Workplace Health and Wellbeing Property of the Year, Best Outdoor Experience (including rooftop bars) and Best Casual Dining Experience Awards.

Accommodation Australia NSW Co-Chair Richard Doyle said the event was a perfect way to celebrate hotels and operators who are every year leading the way in innovation, inspiration, staffing and service.

Winner Regional Deluxe Hotel of the Year – Spicers Sangoma Retreat.

“It has been 12 months since the creation of Accommodation Australia NSW and what a first year it has been,” he said.

“We have built a new Association with a focus on putting the needs of members first, and we are very proud of everyone here tonight and what they have achieved for both themselves and our industry overall.”

Likewise, Co-Chair Patrick Lonergan said the level of talent in the room was testament to the stellar contribution NSW hotels make to the country’s annual tourism economy.

“Our industry employs more than 400,000 people and generates more than $17 billion each year,” he said. “Looking at the calibre of talent here tonight, I have no doubt our industry will continue to flourish for years to come.”

Winners on the night included Capella Sydney named winner of the prestigious Metropolitan Deluxe Hotel of the Year and Spicers Sangoma Retreat taking the title of Regional Deluxe Hotel of the Year for the second consecutive year.

In the Superior Hotel of the Year category, Hilton Sydney took top honours for Metropolitan, while Rydges Resort Hunter Valley took the Regional title as well as the inaugural Workplace Health and Wellbeing Property of the Year Award and Best Innovation Project.

In the all-important ‘people awards’, it was Joanna Carruthers of Rydges Sydney Airport taking out Executive of the Year, while Conference and Events Talent of the Year went to Tegan Skyllas of Rydges Sydney Central.

Excellence in food and beverage was also celebrated with Chef of the Year going to Elements of Byron’s Ebony Baker.

“This is a humbling accolade to receive,” Baker said. “While I am honoured to accept it, I would like to acknowledge that I wouldn’t be here without the support and hard work of the Elements F&B team. Together we work tirelessly to elevate the Elements of Byron guest experience through exceptional dining touchpoints. In particular, I’d like to recognise our Grounds and Activities Manager, Alistair Oakman, for his innovative work on foraging and the ongoing inspiration he provides to myself and the wider Elements team.”

Elements talent and culture manager, Justine Dorrell, won the Human Resources Talent of the Year.

The Belongil Beach luxury beachfront resort’s talent and culture manager, Justine Dorrell, won the Human Resources Talent of the Year category.

Dorrell said she was grateful to be recognised with the Human Resources Talent of the Year award.

“This accolade validates our belief that employee satisfaction and overall resort performance go hand in hand. We firmly believe that employee fulfilment has a direct impact on the experience of our guests; and I am proud of my team’s commitment to creating an exceptional experience and culture that prioritises the satisfaction of our internal and external stakeholders,” she said.

Ebony and Justine were present at the award ceremony alongside Elements of Byron General Manager, Michael Skinner and Executive Assistant Manager Monique Rutene.

“I am immensely proud that Ebony and Justine have been recognised for their technical expertise, leadership and innovative approach to providing the best F&B experiences for our guests and fostering a rewarding culture for our staff. There is some incredible talent in the hospitality industry so to receive this distinction is an outstanding recognition and most definitely deserved,” Skinner said.

“We would like to thank NSW Accommodation Awards for Excellence for these accolades and extend our gratitude to the guests who have visited Elements of Byron and inspired us to strive for unwavering excellence. We look forward to continuing to create unforgettable guest experiences well into the future,” he added.

Food and Beverage Talent of the Year was won by Vinura de Silva of Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort.

Restaurant of the Year (Deluxe Hotels) was awarded to Restaurant Amara at Spicers Sangoma Retreat, while the Mid-range/Superior award went to Glass Brasserie at Hilton Sydney. Best Casual Dining Experience was won by Abode Bistro.Bar at PARKROYAL Darling Harbour.

The Bar at InterContinental Sydney Double Bay was awarded Bar of the Year (Deluxe Hotels), while Jackalberry at Hyatt Regency Sydney won the Mid-Range – Superior category.

QT Sydney received the award for Best Marketing Campaign ‘You Live Here Now’. QT Newcastle’s signature restaurant, Jana Restaurant & Bar, was Highly Commended in the category of Restaurant of the Year (Deluxe Hotels).

Area general manager QT Hotels & Resorts and General Manager of QT Sydney, David Sude, said he couldn’t be prouder of the QT Sydney and QT Newcastle teams.

“We are honoured to be celebrated at these awards, as these wins reflect the incredible calibre and passion of our people and the exceptional experience they deliver to our guests every day.”

QT Newcastle’s general manager, Michael Stamboulidis echoes the immense pride in the team’s dedication in delivering QT’s ‘unexpected and unrequested’ signature service, at the designer hotel collection’s newest regional property.

“This achievement is a direct reflection of our team’s unwavering commitment to delivering an unrivalled guest experience. By investing in and elevating our people through ongoing training and development, we continue to excel,” Stamboulidis said.

Another new award launched this year was Best Outdoor Experience (Including Rooftop Bars). The category was won by Aster at InterContinental Sydney, while Best Health Spa and Wellness Experience was taken out by Crown Spa at Crown Towers Sydney for the third consecutive year and Redeveloped/Refurbished Property of the Year was awarded to Bells at Killcare Boutique Hotel, Restaurant & Spa.

Accommodation Australia NSW General Manager Stacey McBride said it was fantastic one year post amalgamation to see the industry come together in such unified fashion.

“The exceptional level of talent we have is what makes the NSW accommodation industry world-class,” she said. “To see a group of people with such skill, talent, and dedication together under one roof celebrating each other’s accomplishments speaks volumes and I congratulate every finalist and winner on their hard work over the past year.”

Winner Metropolitan Deluxe Hotel of the Year – Capella Sydney.

The 2024 NSW Accommodation Award winners

HOTEL ACHIEVMENT AWARDS

BEST INNOVATION PROJECT
Rydges Resort Hunter Valley

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN TRAINING
Four Seasons Hotel Sydney

OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION
Spicers Guesthouse

BEST ENVIRONMENTAL/SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES
Crystalbrook Byron

DISABILITY INCLUSION AND ACCESS
Hotel Etico

WORKPLACE HEALTH AND WELLBEING PROPERTY OF THE YEAR
Rydges Resort Hunter Valley

CONFERENCE AND EVENTS VENUE OF THE YEAR
The Star, Sydney

BEST MARKETING CAMPAIGN
QT Sydney

PEOPLE AWARDS

ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
Michael Stronach

HIGHLY COMMENDED
Thomas Finn

FINANCE TALENT OF THE YEAR
Edith Tao, Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park

PARKROYAL Darling Harbour
Rydges World Square

REVENUE/YIELD TALENT OF THE YEAR STR
Amy Lembke, PARKROYAL Darling Harbour

FOOD AND BEVERAGE TALENT OF THE YEAR
Vinura de Silva, Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort

CONFERENCE AND EVENTS TALENT OF THE YEAR WINNER
Tegan Skyllas, Rydges Sydney Central

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS TALENT OF THE YEAR
Jessica O’Connell, The Fullerton Hotel Sydney

SALES TALENT OF THE YEAR
Asha Naidu, The Grace Hotel

HUMAN RESOURCES TALENT OF THE YEAR
Justine Dorrell, Elements of Byron

ROOMS DIVISION TALENT OF THE YEAR
Mehul Desai, Ovolo Woolloomooloo

EMPLOYEE EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE
Varsha Nandni, The Darling, Sydney

CONCIERGE OF THE YEAR
Jonathan Fambart, Capella Sydney

HOUSEKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Rosa Pitt, View Sydney

CHEF OF THE YEAR
Ebony Baker, Elements of Byron

INDUSTRY RISING STAR
Daniel Siang Lee, The Langham Sydney

EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR
Joanna Carruthers, Rydges Sydney Airport

PROPERTY AWARDS

BEST CASUAL DINING EXPERIENCE
Abode Bistro.Bar, PARKROYAL Darling Harbour

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR (MID-RANGE – SUPERIOR HOTELS)
Glass Brasserie, Hilton Sydney

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR (DELUXE HOTELS)
Restaurant Amara, Spicers Sangoma Retreat

BAR OF THE YEAR (MID-RANGE – SUPERIOR HOTELS)
Jackalberry, Hyatt Regency Sydney

BAR OF THE YEAR (DELUXE HOTELS)
The Bar, InterContinental Sydney Double Bay

BEST OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE (INCLUDING ROOFTOP BARS)
Aster, InterContinental Sydney

BEST HEALTH SPA AND WELLNESS EXPERIENCE
Crown Spa, Crown Towers Sydney

REDEVELOPED/REFURBISHED PROPERTY OF THE YEAR
Bells at Killcare Boutique Hotel, Restaurant & Spa

MOTEL OF THE YEAR
Highlands Motor Inn

APARTMENT/SUITE HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Leisure Inn Spires

MID-RANGE HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Little National Hotel Sydney

REGIONAL SUPERIOR HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Rydges Resort Hunter Valley

METROPOLITAN SUPERIOR HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Hilton Sydney

REGIONAL DELUXE HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Spicers Sangoma Retreat

METROPOLITAN DELUXE HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Capella Sydney

For a full list of 2024 NSW Accommodation Award winners visit: www.accommodationawardsnsw.org