Dr Jerry Schwartz had plenty of reasons to smile at the Accommodation Association of NSW Awards last week.

His Rydges Resort Hunter Valley was one of the star performers on the night. The resort was crowned Regional Superior Hotel of the Year, and also took out gold for Best Innovation Project and Workplace Health & Safety.

The awards for the Hunter Valley resort coincide with the launch of Dr Schwartz’s new solar farm in grounds adjacent to the hotel.

The 5MW solar plant joins an earlier 5MW plant, meaning that the two farms are now producing enough energy to cover the output of all his hotels across NSW and still return additional energy to the grid.

Dr Schwartz said environmental and sustainability best-practice needed to be at the heart of all hotels’ operations.

“That’s why I was so happy that Rydges Resort Hunter Valley not only won the Best Superior Regional Hotel award but also the Best Innovation Project because that was all about sustainability,” said Dr Schwartz.

“Hotels have to be holistic in terms of the way they operate. Sustainability must be at the fore of every hotel operation. Most Schwartz Family Company hotels have introduced major environmental initiatives over the years, and Rydges Resort Hunter Valley really shines brightly as a sustainability leader.

“It is particularly important to showcase renewable energy in the heart of a region still known for its coal mining.

“Tourism is the sustainable industry of the future for the Hunter Valley.

“To make the hotel, convention centre and brewery 100% renewable is a vital initiative. At times, the Hunter Valley Conference & Events Centre can host more than 1,000 people across the venue, which requires massive energy use, but we can cover all of that through locally produced renewable sources.

“The installation of the solar panels across the property and the building of the solar farms were the ideal solution to meeting our energy needs and minimising our environmental impact.”

Tegan Skyllas of Rydges Sydney Central was named Conference and Events Talent of the Year. Sarah Hamilton of Rydges Newcastle was Highly Commended in the Executive of the Year category, and Thomas Finn of Rydges Sydney World Square was Highly Commended in the Engineer of the Year category.

Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour took out a trio of Highly Commended awards: Roberto Carrillo (Conference & Events Talent of the Year), Karolina Sadalska (Housekeeper of the Year) and Joan Lee (Chef of the Year).

Dr Schwartz is about to add another NSW hotel to the group’s portfolio, with Leura Gardens Resort expected to join Fairmont Resort in Leura in the Blue Mountains at the end of the month.

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