More than 600 industry and political leaders from NSW tourism accommodation sector came together for a long overdue night of celebration on Wednesday to recognise key performers at the 2022 Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA) NSW Awards for Excellence.
Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley took home the big award of the night, Deluxe Hotel of the Year, with Crown Towers Sydney achieving Highly Commended. The Star Sydney was named Metropolitan Superior Hotel of the Year, while team members at the Four Seasons, Sydney, collected a number of coveted awards including Concierge of the Year, Pastry Chef of the Year, Sales and Marketing Talent of the Year and a Highly Commended for Hotel Industry Rising Star.
The Langham, Sydney was recognised once again for Outstanding Community Contribution, while Rydges Newcastle won Mid-Range Hotel of the Year, and Crystalbrook Byron was named Redeveloped/Refurbished Hotel of the Year.
Apartment/Suite Hotel of the Year went to Skye Suites, Sydney.
“We were incredibly honoured to have been nominated not once, but three times across our Sydney hotels for this category,” said Skye Suites, Australasia, Head of Hotels, David Bowen.
“Our property General Manager, Melaine Robinson has created the perfect combination of business function with a resort vibe. Along with her dedicated team and her attention to detail, Melaine has continued to meet all industry standards and stand out in a city full of 5-star properties, no mean feat on top of tackling more than two years of COVID.”’
The event’s inaugural Hotel Executive of the Year award went to Shaun O’Bryan from Oaks Cyrpress Lakes Resort and Elysia Wellness Retreat,
Minor Hotels Australia and New Zealand. Chief Operating Officer, Craig Hooley, congratulated O’Bryan and praised his ‘outstanding leadership, determination and innovation throughout the past year’.
This year’s Hall of Fame Inductee was industry icon Peter Tudehope of the Radisson Hotel Group.
TAA NSW and National CEO, Michael Johnson, said Tudehope brings a level of both compassion and humility to his role, and is known for looking after his team.
“During the pandemic we saw thousands of people abandon our hotels to work in other industries, but our inductee lost barely a handful. Their loyalty is the greatest accolade a leader can ever expect to receive,” Johnson said.
The gala event at The Fullerton Hotel, Sydney, saw TAA and the Accommodation Association (AA) come together at an official awards ceremony for the first time, as the peak industry bodies move closer to the merger into Accommodation Australia.
TAA NSW Chair Richard Doyle welcomed members of the Accommodation Association to the awards for the first time, saying it was ‘another step in the successful merging of our two great associations’.
The full list of winners at the 2022 TAA NSW Awards for Excellence:
BEST INNOVATION PROJECT
WINNER: Rydges Sydney Central
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley
OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION
WINNER: The Langham, Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Rydges Sydney Airport
BEST MARKETING CAMPAIGN
WINNER: Hyatt Regency Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Shangri-La Sydney
ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: James Finn Rydges World Square
FINANCE TALENT OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Stephen Shao Mercure Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Teresa Rotondo Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour
REVENUE/YIELD TALENT OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Priscilla Nealon PARKROYAL Parramatta
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Amber Sarney Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley
FOOD & BEVERAGE TALENT OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Julie-Ann Pooley The Star Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Adam Lau Four Seasons Hotel Sydney
SALES & MARKETING TALENT OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Maria Mellino Four Seasons Hotel Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Sophie Meng The Langham, Sydney
CONCIERGE OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Josh Blake Four Seasons Hotel Sydney
HUMAN RESOURCES TALENT OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Lauren Carinci Crown Towers Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Annika Spaans Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney
ROOMS DIVISION TALENT OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Jade Bradshaw Pier One Sydney Harbour
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Nathan Kengike West Hotel Sydney, Curio Collection by Hilton
EMPLOYEE EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE
WINNER: Sophie Bruneau Crown Towers Sydney
HOUSEKEEPER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Rochak Karki InterContinental Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Bijay Maharjan Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour
CHEF OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Michael Elfwing Spicers Guesthouse
PASTRY CHEF OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Quentin Zerr Four Seasons Hotel Sydney
HOTEL INDUSTRY RISING STAR
JOINT WINNERS:
Domenic Torrisi Pier One Sydney Harbour
Emma Lombard Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Akanksha Sanan Four Seasons Hotel Sydney
HOTEL EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Shaun O’Bryan Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort & Elysia Wellness Retreat
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Chris Kemlo Crown Towers Sydney
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR (MID RANGE – SUPERIOR)
WINNER: Mister Percy The Woolstore 1888 by Ovolo
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Cucina Porto The Star Sydney
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR (DELUXE)
WINNER: Amara Spicers Sangoma Retreat
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Atelier by Sofitel Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour
BRASSERIE/CAFÉ OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Bistro Manly Manly Pacific
BAR OF THE YEAR (MID-RANGE – SUPERIOR)
WINNER: Two Doctors Whiskey Tavern Fairmont Resort & Spa Blue Mountains – MGallery Collection
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Mister Percy The Woolstore 1888 by Ovolo
BAR OF THE YEAR (DELUXE)
WINNER: Cirq Crown Towers Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Rombergs Crystalbrook Kingsley
HEALTH CLUB & SPA FACILITIES OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Crown Spa Sydney Crown Towers Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Chi, The Spa Shangri-La Sydney
REDEVELOPED/REFURBISHED HOTEL OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Crystalbrook Byron
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Hilton Sydney
APARTMENT/SUITE HOTEL OF THE YEAR
WINNER: SKYE Suites Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Fraser Suites Sydney
MID-RANGE HOTEL OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Rydges Newcastle
METROPOLITAN SUPERIOR HOTEL OF THE YEAR
WINNER: The Star Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Hyatt Regency Sydney
REGIONAL SUPERIOR HOTEL OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Spicers Sangoma Retreat
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury Valley
HALL OF FAME
INDUCTEE: Peter Tudehope Radisson Hotel Group
DELUXE HOTEL OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Crown Towers Sydney