Australia’s top hotels have been honoured at the 2009 AHA National Hotel Awards for Excellence.

Speaking at the gala awards dinner at Conrad Jupiters on Queensland’s Gold Coast, the AHA’s national chief executive officer Bill Healey said Australian hotels had a lot to be proud of if the national winners “were any guide”.

“Given the financial downturn, it is particularly pleasing to see that high standards have once again been set,” he said.

The major winners included the Coolangatta Hotel in Queensland which was named Hotel of the Year in the General Division and the Park Hyatt Melbourne which won the title of Hotel of the Year for the Accommdation Division.

Tony Bilson’s eponymously named three hat restaurant at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Sydney again grabbed the title of Best Restaurant in the Accommodation Division while the acclaimed Royal Mail Hotel won the award for Best Restaurant General Division in the country.

Here’s the entire winners list:

Overall Hotel of the Year (general division)—Coolangatta Hotel (Coolangatta, QLD)

Overall Hotel of the Year (accommodation division)—Park Hyatt Melbourne (East Melbourne, VIC)

Outstanding community service achievement

Hillside Hotel (Castle Hill, NSW)

Outstanding achievement in training—Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel (Sydney, NSW)

Best environmental practice—Crowne Plaza Alice Springs (Alice Springs, NT)/Rydges Lakeside Canberra (Canberra, ACT) – joint winners

Best tourism initiative—Barnbougle Dunes Golf Links (Bridport, TAS)

Best bistro/casual/family dining (country)—Buderim Tavern (Buderim, QLD)

Best bistro/casual/family dining (metro)—The Winston (Winston Hills, NSW)

Best restaurant, general division (country)—Royal Mail Hotel (Dunkeld, VIC)

Best restaurant, general division (metro)—Cruise (Sydney, NSW)

Best restaurant, accommodation division—Radisson Plaza Hotel Sydney, Bilson’s Restaurant (Sydney, NSW)

Best retail liquor outlet—Edinburgh Hotel & Cellars (Mitcham, SA)

Best bar presentation & service (country)—Zedbar (Albury, NSW)

Best bar presentation & service (metro)—Ravesi’s on Bondi (Bondi Beach, NSW)/The Langham Melbourne, Aria Bar & Lounge (Southbank, VIC)—joint winners

Best sporting entertainment venue—Shoreline Hotel (Howrah, TAS)

Best entertainment venue—Governor Hindmarsh Hotel (Hindmarsh, SA)

Best outdoor or non-enclosed facility—The Highway (Plympton, SA)

Best gaming venue (country)—Grand Hotel (Mornington, VIC)

Best gaming venue (metro)—Golden Grove Tavern (Surrey Downs, SA)

Best redeveloped hotel, general division—Goulburn Valley Hotel (Shepparton, VIC)

Best redeveloped hotel, accommodation division—Grand Hyatt Melbourne (Melbourne, VIC)

Best marketed hotel, general division—Hallam Hotel (Hallam, VIC)

Best marketed hotel, accommodation division—Emporium Hotel (Fortitude Valley, QLD)/The Westin Melbourne (Melbourne, VIC)—joint winners

Bartender of the year—Luis Bruce, Cruise (Sydney, NSW)

Chef of the year—Daniel Fountain, The Watershed Hotel (Darling Harbour, NSW)

Front of house employee of the year—Cameron Cundle, Sheraton on the Park (Sydney, NSW)

Employee excellence in service—Derrick Buckley, The Shed (Northbridge, WA)

Hotel industry rising star—Liza Gadd, Spring Bay Hotel (Triabunna, TAS)

Best pub style accommodation—Coogee Bay Hotel (Coogee, NSW)

Best mid-range accommodation—Largs Pier Hotel (Largs Bay, SA)/Tall Timbers Tasmania (Smithton, TAS)—joint winners

Best apartment/suite hotel—Quay Grand Suites Sydney (Sydney, NSW)

Best resort style accommodation—Lake House (Daylesford, VIC)

Best superior hotel accommodation—SKYCITY Darwin (Mindil Beach, NT)

Best deluxe hotel accommodation—Hyatt Hotel Canberra (Yarralumla, ACT)