Hilton Surfers Paradise is today celebrating after taking home two awards at the 20th annual Queensland Hotels Association (QHA) Awards for Excellence held on June 7, 2021 at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, while also being recognised as finalists across an additional three award categories.

The iconic Gold Coast hotel took out the major award for Best Redeveloped Hotel - Accommodation and Lucas Evans, duty manager, Hilton Surfers Paradise, was awarded with the prestigious Hotel Industry Rising Star Award for 2021. The hotel and its team were also proud to be recognized as finalists for Best Hotel Bar - Accommodation, Front of House Employee of the Year and Employee Excellence in Service.

Renowned for being Queensland’s most prestigious hotel accolades, the awards celebrated the industry’s highest achievers, unveiling a plethora of talent and innovation. The Hilton Surfers Paradise Team are delighting in honor for being recognized once again for their continued excellence in the hospitality industry.

The win for Best Hotel Redevelopment was supported by the hotel’s $9million makeover in 2020 which saw the addition of nine new guest rooms and suites, the unveiling of a new full-service Executive Lounge, expansion of conference facilities, a reinvented lobby complete with a new cocktail bar, all day dining area and exhibition gallery, the implementation Digital Key for guest rooms and Digital Ordering Poolside, in-room and within the outlets.

Fiona Pryde, general manager, Hilton Surfers Paradise said we are very fortunate that despite a challenging 2020 that our owner continued in the hotel’s redevelopment.

“Renovating the entire ground floor during the COVID-19 pandemic created a sense of optimism within the team during challenging times. It also gave the hotel something new and exciting for our loyal guests to experience once interstate travel resumed.”

Competing against five other outstanding finalists, Lucas Evans, duty manager, Hilton Surfers Paradise took home the Hotel Industry Rising Star Award, an incredible testament to his bright future in hospitality. Working his way up from a concierge intern in 2017, Lucas has big dreams of one day becoming a general manager of a Hilton hotel.

Pryde added, “The QHA Awards for Excellence is acclaimed for shining a spotlight on the Hotel industry and we are grateful to be recognized among the many talented people and great hotels that make up the outstanding and resilient Queensland Hotel Industry.”

The hotel was also proud to be recognised as a finalist for Best Hotel Bar - Accommodation after introducing the brand new bar & eatery during the major refurbishments; Ms Margot’s Bar & Eats. The new bar and eatery brings the lobby to life with a variety of informal spaces to meet and eat over a coffee or curated cocktails.

Ms Pryde said the bar is proudly named after regular Ms Margot, who has been visiting daily for over a decade for her morning coffee and breakfast.

“We chose to name the bar after our beloved Ms. Margot who keeps coming back, for her daily dose of the famous Hilton Hospitality we provide,

“We wanted to create a beautiful space where guests and locals will keep coming back to, just like Ms Margot, to eat, drink and make connections,” Ms Pryde said.

Lindee Brophy, Hilton Surfers Paradise’ Guest Service Agent was recognized as one of three finalists for the Front of House Employee of The Year award for the outstanding service she delivers and Lisa Galway, Hilton Surfers Paradise’ HR Assistant Manager was also recognized as one of five finalists for the Employee Excellence in Service. Lisa will be celebrating her 17th year of service with Hilton in December 2021.

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