The annual AHA (NSW) Awards for Excellence have seen The Entrance Hotel and the Terrey Hills Tavern take out the prestigious Overall Hotel of the Year – Country and Overall Hotel of the Year – City.
A total of 48 winners from a field of 215 finalists were announced last night at the presentation dinner, held at Star City Hotel and Casino.
Since 1993, the AHA (NSW) Awards for Excellence have been one of the most prestigious awards to be granted in the hospitality industry, as each category covers specific areas of a hotel’s operations.
The Overall Hotel of the Year Award (City and Country) is judged on hotels providing an excellent overall range of facilities, while maintaining an overall excellence in service. Key areas of the hotel were taken into account including food services, bar presentation, customer service, community support and involvement in industry activities. In 2009, both The Entrance Hotel and the Terrey Hills Tavern have proved that they offer the best overall hotel experiences in regional and metropolitan New South Wales.
The Winston, the Coogee Bay Hotel, Cruise Bar and the Clocktower Hotel in Grafton were also high achievers this year, taking out two awards each.
Special congratulations also goes to industry stalwarts John Ross OAM and Doris Bishop who were both inducted into the AHA (NSW) Hall of Fame.
Winners:
Contemporary Cocktail/Lounge Bar of the Year
Winner: Clock Hotel, Surry Hills
Sports Bar of the Year
Winner: Northies-Cronulla Hotel, Cronulla
Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year
Winner: Cruise Bar, Sydney
Restaurant of the Year – City
Winner: PJ Gallagher’s Parramatta
Restaurant of the Year – Country
Winner: Queen’s Wharf Brewery – Nor’East, Newcastle
Casual Dining Venue of the Year – City
Winner: Rocksia Hotel, Arncliffe
Casual Dining Venue of the Year – Country
Winner: The Entrance Hotel, The Entrance
Gastronomic Hotel of the Year
Winner: Riverview Hotel, Balmain
Best New/Redeveloped Hotel of the Year – City
Winner: Macquarie Hotel, Liverpool
Best New/Redeveloped Hotel of the Year – Country
Winner: Clocktower Hotel, Grafton
Entertainment Venue of the Year
Winner: The Mean Fiddler, Rouse Hill
Bartender of the Year
Winner: Stewart Luk, Fringe Bar & Restaurant
Chef of the Year
Winner: John Lucas, Cruise Bar
Rising Star of the Year
Winner: Danielle Hilton, Quakers Inn
For a full list of winners visit www.ahansw.com.au