The crème de la crème of South Australia’s hotel industry were celebrated in grand style as more than 900 luminaries, industry experts, and hotel enthusiasts converged at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre for the 2023 AHA|SA Hotel Industry Awards for Excellence.
The annual awards spotlight the epitome of quality, innovation, and outstanding service delivery in the hotel sector.
Leading the pack in the General Division was The Cremorne Hotel, which, after a remarkable transformation in September 2021, emerged as the Best Overall Hotel. Its revitalised design captures a unique blend of casual elegance, ensuring guests feel both relaxed and pampered. The venue’s excellence didn’t stop there; they also clinched the Best Bar Presentation and Experience Metropolitan and Best Bistro Casual Dining – Inner Metropolitan titles.
In the Country category, the award for Best Overall Hotel went to the McLaren Vale Hotel. This historic gem from the 1850s has undergone significant redevelopment, which, combined with its devotion to promoting the McLaren Vale region, also won it the W.T. Spurr AO Award for Tourism & Regional Promotion and the accolade for Best Redeveloped Country.
Mount Lofty House shone bright in the Accommodation Division. Renowned for its consistent high standards across accommodation, dining, functions, and stellar customer service, it bagged the Best Overall Hotel title. Adding another feather to their cap, Christopher Speck, Guest Relations Manager at Mount Lofty House, was honoured with the Employee Excellence in Service – Accommodation Division award. Not to be outdone, the Sequoia Lodge at Mount Lofty House was recognized as the Best Luxury Hotel Accommodation.
Paying homage to sustained excellence, three revered establishments were inducted into the Hotel Awards Hall of Fame. The Warradale Hotel, for its unmatched sporting entertainment; the Governor Hindmarsh Hotel, a hub of captivating performances; and the Watervale Hotel, which has consistently demonstrated a commitment to innovation, sustainability, and energy-efficient practices.
AHA|SA CEO Anna Moeller expressed her pride and appreciation for the winners, noting, “The AHA|SA Hotel Awards for Excellence symbolize the pinnacle of achievement for SA’s hotels. Tonight, we celebrate not just the winners but the spirit of dedication and passion that drives this industry.”
The journey doesn’t end here for the South Australian winners. They will now represent the state at the AHA National Hotel Awards, scheduled for 27 November in Adelaide.
Concluding the gala evening of the 2023 AHA|SA Hotel Industry Awards for Excellence, attendees were treated to electrifying entertainment by Hot Dub Time Machine, with the charismatic Will Goodings as the event’s host.
2023 Full List of Winners
Category/Winner
Draught Beer Quality – Elephant British Pub
All Abilities Hotel – General Division Duke of Brunswick Hotel
WT Spurr Awards for Tourism & Regional Promotion – McLaren Vale Hotel
Bar Presentation & Experience – Accommodation Division – Mayfair Hotel
Bar Presentation & Experience – Country – noky @ The Henty, Mount Gambier
Bar Presentation & Experience – Metropolitan Cremorne Hotel
Judges Commendation – Paloma Bar & Pantry
Sporting Entertainment Venue – Warradale Hotel
TAB Licenced Venue – V Hotel
Entertainment Venue – Governor Hindmarsh Hotel (The Gov)
Retail Liquor Outlet – The Modbury Hotel / The Pickled Duck
Judges Commendation – Stirling Hotel
Outdoor or Non-Enclosed Facility – Country Port Lincoln Hotel
Outdoor or Non-Enclosed Facility – Metropolitan – 2KW Bar & Restaurant
Innovation, Sustainability & Energy Efficiency Practice – Watervale Hotel
Marketing & Promotion – Accommodation Division – Eos by SkyCity
Marketing & Promotion – General Division – Duke of Brunswick Hotel
Community Service & Support – Berri Hotel
Deluxe Pub Accommodation – Stirling Hotel
Mid-Range Hotel Accommodation – ibis Adelaide
Superior Hotel Accommodation – Atura Adelaide Airport
Deluxe Hotel Accommodation – Sofitel Adelaide
Judges Commendation – Eos by SkyCity
Luxury Hotel Accommodation – Sequoia Lodge – Mount Lofty House
Bistro Casual Dining – Country – Dalrymple Hotel, Stansbury
Judges Commendation – Greenock Hotel
Bistro Casual Dining – Inner Metropolitan – Cremorne Hotel
Judges Commendation – Strathmore Hotel
Bistro Casual Dining – Outer Metropolitan – Warradale Hotel
Judges Commendation – Crafers Hotel
Judges Commendation – Aldinga Hotel
Family Dining – Belair Hotel
Restaurant Accommodation Division – The Playford
Judges Commendation – Mount Lofty House
Restaurant General Division – Country – Watervale Hotel
Restaurant General Division – Metropolitan – The Brompton
Meeting & Events Venue – Accommodation & Specialist Division – Joint Winner – Adelaide Oval
Meeting & Events Venue – Accommodation & Specialist Division – Joint Winner – Eos by SkyCity
Meeting & Events Venue – General Division – Marion Hotel
Gaming Venue – Country – Middleton Tavern Bridgeport Hotel
Gaming Venue – Metropolitan – Cross Keys Hotel
Redeveloped Hotel – Accommodation Division – HotelMOTEL
Redeveloped Hotel – Country – McLaren Vale Hotel
Redeveloped Hotel – Metropolitan – Joint Winner – Kent Town Hotel
Redeveloped Hotel – Metropolitan – Joint Winner – The Clovey
Chef of the Year Adelaide Oval – Philip Pope
Employee Excellence in Service – Accommodation Division – Mount Lofty House – Christopher Speck
Employee Excellence in Service – General Division – Alma Hotel, Willunga – Daniel Hall
Hotel Industry Rising Star Penneshaw Pub – Renae Daniell
Overall Hotel – Accommodation Division Mount Lofty House
Overall Hotel – Country McLaren Vale Hotel
Overall Hotel – General Cremorne Hotel
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