Hotel industry professionals from around Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific will don their best 1920s attire for another sold out HM Awards tonight, Friday November 24.
Now in its 21st year, the 2023 HM Awards for Hotel and Accommodation Excellence, sponsored by Sealy Posturepedic, has become known as the industry’s night of nights.
Retuning to The Star Event Centre in Sydney for a second year, under the theme of the Roaring 20s, the event will welcome 1,000 hotel industry professionals to celebrate the best people, properties and departments in the region.
This year, the HM Awards received almost 2000 nominations, demonstrating the breadth of talent within the industry.
A grand total of 52 categories will be presented on the night, recognising across people and departments to properties and chains.
View the list of nominees for this year’s awards here.
“As the Founder of the HM Awards, I’m excited to see how far the event has come over the past 21 years and the amazing involvement from the industry in Australasia, which saw almost 2000 entries this year,” said HM Awards Founder, Chief Judge and Editor-In-Chief, James Wilkinson.
“Once again, the entries this year – from chefs to housekeepers, five-star resorts and apartment hotels – have been incredible and it has been terrific to see thousands of staff and properties highlight many achievements in another busy year.”
This year, changes have been made to the New Zealand categories – ‘hotel’ and ‘regional property’ have been replaced by boutique, midscale, upscale and luxury – to better reflect the Aotearoa industry, while a new HM magazine Global Hotelier of the Year category has also been added.
Once more in 2023, People winners have been split into Australia and New Zealand-Pacific regions, providing an opportunity to further recognise winners from Aotearoa and the South Pacific, while also acknowledging the best of the best across Australia.
In the last 20 years, over 12,500 people have attended the HM Awards, presented by Sealy Posturepedic, and more than 1000 awards have been won by hotels across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.
Supporting Sala Baï Hotel and Restaurant school
The 2023 HM Awards will raise funds for hospitality training charity, Sala Baï. Launched in 2002, Sala Baï Hotel and Restaurant school is a program created by French NGO Agir Pour le Cambodge (APLC) in partnership with Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School, to fight poverty and human trafficking through social and professional training of young underprivileged Cambodians.
On the night, attendees can sponsor a student’s training using pledge cards available or support the cause by purchasing De Beaurepaire Wines 2021 ‘Blanchefleur’ Blanc de Blancs, available at the Sparkling Bar. Pre purchase a bottle or glass here.
The 2023 HM Awards for Hotel and Accommodation Excellence are presented by Sealy Posturepedic; co-hosted by the Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School (BMIHMS) at Torrens University Australia and Hostplus; sponsored by Foxtel for Business, ahs Hospitality, De Beaurepaire Wines, FutureLog, Encore, Silant, Assa Abloy Global Solution and Vittoria Coffee; and supported by Accommodation Australia (AA), Hotel Council Aotearoa, Beer Republic, TravMedia, Watson Farley & Williams and WAYFARER.
“Without these fantastic major sponsors and our Award Presenters and Supporting Companies, this event would not be possible,” said Wilkinson.
“On behalf of the HM Magazine team, thank you again for your support. To the finalists, good luck in the 2023 HM Awards and for everyone attending, I trust you will enjoy the hotel industry’s night of nights.”