THE Westin Hotel in Sydney has received top honours at the Australian Hotels Association NSW Annual Awards for Excellence taking out the award for Deluxe Hotel of the Year.

Amongst the other major award winners were Lillianfels Blue Mountains Resort and Spa (Regional Property of the Year—Deluxe) and Novotel Northbeach (Regional Property of the Year—Superior), Quay Grand Suites Sydney (Aparment-style Hotel of the Year), and Courtyard by Marriot Parramatta (Mid-market Property of the Year).

The annual awards celebrate excellence in the state’s best three, four and five star hotels. The winners go on to compete in the AHA’s national awards later this year.

The awards were held at Star City which is home to the restaurant named Restaurant of the Year, Astral, and its chef Sean Connolly, who received the award for Chef of the Year. Regional restaurant of the Year was the acclaimed Darleys at Lillianfels Blue Mountains Resort.

The awards cut across all aspects of the operation of hotels with the role of concierge recognised with the Concierge of the Year Award, which went to Victor Baraya at the Radisson Plaza Hotel, Sydney, and housekeeping with Maureen Jolowicz—also from the Radisson—being named Housekeeper of the Year.

Here’s the complete list:

Best training: Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley

Outstanding community support: Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley

Best environment initiative: Novotel & Hotel Ibis Sydney Olympic Park

Most Creative Marketing Campaign: Novotel Brighton Beach

Website of the Year: Sofitel Wentworth & Cypress Lakes Resort (equal winners)

OH&S Hotel of the Year: Quay West Suites Sydney

Function Venue of the Year: Four Points by Sheraton Darling Harbour

Rooms Division Employee of the Year: Grizzell Espiritu, The Westin

Food & Beverage Employee of the Year: Sean Fitzgerald, Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel

Sales & Marketing Employee of the Year: Erin O’Connor, Loxley on Bellbird Hill

Public Relations & Communications Employee of the Year 2007: Kristi Sergeant, Four Points by Sheraton, Darling Harbour

Human Resources Employee of the Year: Mardi Filsell, Radisson Plaza Hotel Sydney

Front Office Employee of the Year: Kristie Martin, Courtyard by Marriott Parramatta & Michelle Denford, Swissotel (equal winner)

Young Achiever of the Year: Patrick Ocampo, Four Points by Sheraton & Courtney Hill, Crowne Plaza Darling Harbour (equal winners)

Employee Excellence in Service: Simon Bestre, Sydney Marriott Hotel

Chef of the Year: Sean Connolly, Star City Hotel & Apartments

Concierge of the Year: Victor Baraya, Radisson Plaza Hotel Sydney

Housekeeper of the Year: Maureen Jolowicz, Radisson Plaza Hotel Sydney

Restaurant of the Year: Astral Restaurant, Star City Hotel & Apartments

Regional Restaurant of the Year: Darleys, Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spa

Brasserie/Café of the Year: Bistro Fax, Radisson Plaza Hotel Sydney

Regional Brasserie/Café of the Year: The Old City Bank Brasserie, The Carrington

Bar of the Year: Blu Horizon, Shangri-La Sydney

Best Spa of the Year: Yindi Day Spa, The Carrington

Health Club Facilities of the Year: Living Well Health Club, Hilton Sydney

Redeveloped Hotel of the Year: Sydney Marriott Hotel

Apartment-Style Hotel of the Year: Quay Grand Suites Sydney

Mid-Market Hotel of the Year: Courtyard by Marriott Parramatta

Superior Hotel of the Year: The Sebel Pier One Sydney

Regional Property of the Year—Superior: Novotel Northbeach

Deluxe Hotel of the Year: The Westin

Regional Property of the Year—Deluxe: Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spa