The annual AHA National Awards for Excellence brings together the industry’s best from across Australia.

The team from Crown Towers Perth walked away with the coveted Overall Hotel of the Year award - one of the day’s major categories.

At a glance:

• The best Australian accommodation hotels for 2019 have been named at the AHA National Awards for Excellence held at The Star, Gold Coast.
• Crown Towers Perth walked away with the coveted Overall Hotel of the Year award.
• The Darling, The Star Gold Coast won Best Deluxe Accommodation and Best Redeveloped Hotel.

Executive Manager for Crown Towers Perth Andrew Cairns accepted the prestigious national award in front of a crowd of more than 500 VIP and industry guests.

Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA) National CEO Michael Johnson paid tribute to the efforts of Mr Cairns and his team.

“There’s no doubt Crown Towers Perth really does set a high standard, not only nationally but internationally - congratulations to Andrew and his team - well done,” he said.

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Laurent Johnson and Yvone Qian

The Darling, The Star Gold Coast won Best Deluxe Accommodation and Best Redeveloped Hotel. Outstanding achievement in Training went to the Grand Hyatt Melbourne.

The national title for Best Superior Accommodation was won by Maylands Lodge in Tasmania, while the Holiday Inn Melbourne on Flinders won Best Mid-Range Accommodation.

Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley won Best Environmental and Energy Efficiency Practice and Fairmont Resort & Spa Blue Mountains, M Gallery by Sofitel was awarded the prize for the nation’s Best Meeting and Events Venue.

Best Marketed Hotel was won by The Island Gold Coast while the East Hotel in the ACT won Best Suite/Apartment Hotel.

Best Restaurant went to Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant, Mount Lofty House in South Australia while Best Accommodation Hotel Bar was won by Alibi, Ovolo Woolloomooloo in Sydney.

The award for Best Tourism Initiative went to Voyages Ayers Rock Resort.

Mr Johnson also paid tribute to the hard work of staff “who work tirelessly each and every day to ensure Australia’s accommodation sector is second to none.”

Nick Warner of Holiday Inn Express Brisbane and James Lightbody of Hotel Realm in Canberra were joint winners of the Hotel Industry Rising Star award, while Yvone Qian of the Sheraton Melbourne Hotel walked away with the national award for Employee Excellence in Service.

Laurent Johnson of Melbourne’s Marriott Hotel won national Front of House Employee of the Year.

All finalists at the national awards previously won their state divisions.

See also:

$15m Sequoia development at Mount Lofty House to open in December

Ovolo Hotels continue their winning streak at the TAA Awards

Reward Group to refurbish two five-star hotels - Pier One Sydney Harbour and Sails in the Desert