In front of almost 600 hoteliers, industry leaders and major suppliers, the winners of the 2012 HM Awards presented by Sealy have been awarded to some of the Australasian accommodation industry's brightest stars.

 

Held at the prestigious Sydney Town Hall last Friday night (Sep 7) and hosted by television personality Larry Emdur, the HM Awards have, for the 10th time, recognised the accommodation industry's finest staff, properties, brands and chains across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.

 

Major winners on the night were Accor Asia-Pacific's Michael Issenberg (Asia-Pacific Hotelier of the Year), Quest Serviced Apartments' Paul Constantinou (Australasian Hotelier of the Year), Park Hyatt Sydney (Hotel of the Year), The Langham (Hotel Brand), Accor Hotels (Accommodation Chain) and Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa (Environmental Program).

 

Park Hyatt Sydney capped off a big year following the property's major refurbishment, also winning the Luxury Hotel and Interior Design gongs alongside Hotel of the Year, while Hamilton Island's qualia took out Resort, Day Spa and Hotel Chef (Alastair Waddell).

 

Hilton Surfers Paradise was awarded for best New Hotel and Communications Associate (Chelsea Steber), while the chain also took out Hotel Bar (Zeta at Hilton Sydney) and New Zealand Regional Property (Hilton Lake Taupo).

 

New Zealand Lodge went to Huka Lodge in Taupo, while Fijian Property was won by InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa, a hotel that also took out the Service to the Community Award for 2012.

 

InterContinental Hotels Group also celebrated with awards for Concierge (Jason Eade, InterContinental Wellington) and Housekeeper (Eric MacDonald, Crowne Plaza Melbourne).

 

Alongside Asia-Pacific Hotelier of the Year and Hotel Chain, Accor won awards for Australian General Manager (Geoffrey York, Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains), Rising Star (Tara Crisafi, The Sebel Residence Chatswood), Food and Beverage Associate (Claude Stein, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth), South Pacific Property (Sofitel Bora Bora Marara Beach Resort, French Polynesia), New Zealand Property (Sofitel Queenstown Hotel and Spa) and Australian Upscale Property (The Sebel Pier One, Sydney).

 

Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa also collected awards for Regional Property, Australian Lodge and Hotel Engineer (Mario Castillo), while fellow regional star Lake House in Daylesford won the gong for best Hotel Restaurant.

 

Brisbane's Emporium Hotel was named Boutique Hotel of the Year for the fourth time in a row, while Mantra Group, based on the Gold Coast, won Marketing Campaign (for their Pat Rafter advertisements), along with New Zealand General Manager (Alistair Munro, Peppers Bluewater Resort) and Budget Property (BreakFree Aanuka Beach Resort, Coffs Harbour).

 

Toga Hotels won awards for Midscale Property (Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront) and Communications Associate (Tessa Anderssen), while Starwood was recognised for Meetings and Conference Property (Sheraton on the Park, Sydney) and Finance Associate (Pierre Marechal, Four Points by Sheraton Sydney Darling Harbour).

 

The Langham Sydney's Emil Beshay was named Housekeeper of the Year alongside The Langham's Hotel Brand of the Year win.

 

Other key Awards on the night went to Pacific Resort Aitutaki in the Cook Islands (South Pacific General Manager was won by Julian Moore), Crown Metropol Melbourne (Upper-upscale Property), Sydney Harbour Marriott (Maria Macri Nosari for Front Office Associate), Pan Pacific Perth (Virginia Chong for Sales and Marketing Associate), 8Hotels (Rowena Carter for Human Resources Associate), The Darling hotel in Sydney (Tech Hotel), Shangri-La Hotel Sydney (Business Hotel), Scone Motor Inn (Economy Property) and Fraser Suites Sydney (Serviced Apartment Property).

 

The 2012 HM Awards were hosted by HM magazine, presented by Sealy, and co-hosted by AHS, the Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School, Intrust Super and ISIS.

 

 "Once more we were thrilled to recognise the industry's finest hotels, chains and, particularly staff, that have been doing an amazing job over the last 12 months," said HM magazine Editor, James Wilkinson.

 

"Sure it's fantastic when a hotel can be rewarded for its aesthetics, style, design and comfort, but it is the people who work in hotels that give the accommodation industry in Australasia its soul.

 

"This year, our people categories generated the most interest and in the case of Rising Star, the category once more attracted the most nominations out of the 47 categories.

 

"On behalf of the team at HM magazine and all of our fantastic sponsors this year, congratulations to all of the winners, highly commended recipients and finalists in 2012," Wilkinson said.

 

The 2012 HM Awards also saw a special editor's award for Service to the Industry presented to Tim Dearsley from Ibis Christchurch for his hard work and dedication to the hotel industry in the wake of the February 2011 earthquake, alongside three Hall of Fame inductions.

 

This year inducted into the Hall of Fame were Koos Klein (Voyages Indigenous Tourism) and Grant Hunt (Anthology) - who were recognised for their careers in the Australasian hotel industry - along with The Oatley Family, recognised for their significant contribution to the industry through the ongoing development of Hamilton Island.

 

On the night, almost $30,000 was raised for the Sala Bai Hotel School in Siem Reap, Cambodia in yet another strong show of charitable support from the industry.

 

"We are incredibly proud to be helping young people from poor and disadvantaged families realise their dream of working in the hotel industry through training at Sala Bai," Wilkinson said.

 

"This donation will help ensure 30 more young Cambodians will receive the training they need to not just get jobs, but great careers in the hotel industry."

 

The 2012 HM Awards saw not just a huge crowd, but also a record number of entries with 2300 this year.

 

A full list of winners and highly commended recipients are listed below and more information on the nomination and judging process is available at www.hmawards.com.au

 

For more information:

JAMES WILKINSON

Managing Editor, HM Magazine

Tel: +61 (0)2 8586 6204

E: jwilkinson@intermedia.com.au

 

 

 

2012 HM AWARDS

Winners and Highly Commended recipients

 

Australian Property Awards

1. Serviced Apartment Property

Presented by: AHS

WINNER: Fraser Suites Sydney

H/C: Quay Grand Suites, Sydney

 

2. Budget Property

Presented by: Intrust Super

WINNER: BreakFree Aanuka Resort, Coffs Harbour

H/C: Country Comfort Ipswich

 

3. Economy Property

Presented by: AHS

WINNER: Scone Motor Inn and Serviced Apartments

H/C: Travelodge Docklands

 

4. Midscale Property

Presented by: Accommodation Association of Australia

WINNER: Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront

H/C: Diamant Hotel Sydney

 

5. Upscale Property

Presented by: Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School

WINNER: The Sebel Pier One, Sydney

H/C: Q Station Retreat, Manly

 

6. Upper-upscale Property

Presented by: Tourism Accommodation Australia

WINNER: Crown Metropol Melbourne

H/C: The Byron at Byron Resort and Spa

 

7. Luxury Property

Presented by: HotelHome Australia

WINNER: Park Hyatt Sydney

H/C: qualia, Hamilton Island

 

8. Australian Lodge

Presented by: Sealy

WINNER: Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa

H/C: qualia

 

9. Business Hotel

Presented by: ISIS

WINNER: Shangri-La Hotel Sydney

H/C: Sofitel Melbourne On Collins

 

10. Resort

Presented by: Dallen Design

WINNER: qualia, Hamilton Island

H/C: Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa

 

11. Hotel Interior Design

Presented by: ISIS

WINNER: Park Hyatt Sydney

H/C: The Darling, Sydney

 

12. Boutique Hotel

Presented by: Intrust Super

WINNER: Emporium Hotel, Brisbane

H/C: The Langham, Sydney

 

13. New Hotel

Presented by: New Creation Print

WINNER: Hilton Surfers Paradise

H/C: The Darling Sydney

 

14. Meetings and Conference Property

Presented by: Spice magazine and SpiceNews.com.au

WINNER: Sheraton on the Park, Sydney

H/C: Crown Metropol Melbourne

 

15. Regional Property

Presented by: Sealy

WINNER: Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa

H/C: Lake House, Daylesford

 

16. Day Spa

Presented by: ISIS

WINNER: Spa qualia, Hamilton Island

H/C: ISIKA, Crown Metropol Melbourne

 

17. Hotel Bar

Presented by: Southtrade

WINNER: Zeta Bar, Hilton Sydney

H/C: The Waiting Room, Crown Towers Melbourne

 

18. Hotel Restaurant

Presented by: San Pellegrino

WINNER: Lake House Restaurant, Daylesford

H/C: Long Pavillon, qualia, Hamilton Island

 

19. Tech Hotel

Presented by: iBahn

WINNER: The Darling Hotel, Sydney

H/C: Crown Metropol Melbourne

 

New Zealand & South Pacific Property Awards

20. New Zealand Hotel

Presented by: Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School

WINNER: Sofitel Queenstown Hotel and Spa

H/C: Hilton Queenstown

 

21. New Zealand Regional Property

Presented by: Sealy

WINNER: Hilton Lake Taupo

H/C: Millbrook, Central Otago

 

22. New Zealand Lodge

Presented by: Sealy

WINNER: Huka Lodge, Taupo

H/C: Otahuna Lodge, Christchurch

 

23. Fijian Property

Presented by: ISIS

WINNER: InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa

H/C: Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa

 

24. South Pacific Property

Presented by: Ernst&Young

WINNER: Sofitel Bora Bora Marara Beach and Private Island, French Polynesia

H/C: InterContinental Bora Bora Resort and Thalasso Spa, French Polynesia

 

Property Awards - All countries (Australia, NZ & Sth Pacific)

25. Marketing Campaign

Presented by: Time Out Sydney & Time Out Melbourne

WINNER: Mantra Group

H/C: Hilton Surfers Paradise

H/C: Toga Hotels

 

26. Service to the Community

Presented by: AHS

WINNER: InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa

H/C: Accor Hotels Australia

H/C: The York by Swiss-Belhotel

 

People Awards - All countries (Australia, NZ & Sth Pacific)

27. Concierge

Presented by: AHICE

WINNER: Jason Eade, InterContinental Wellington

H/C: Peter Brown, Four Points by Sheraton Sydney Darling Harbour

H/C: David Whittaker, Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains

 

28. Hotel Chef

Presented by: Nespresso

WINNER: Alastair Waddell, qualia

H/C: Dan Hunter, Royal Mail Hotel

H/C: Ben Batterbury, The Rees Hotel and Luxury Apartments

 

29. Food and Beverage Associate

Presented by: Coca-Cola Amatil

WINNER: Claude Stein, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth

H/C: Devrim Erkan, Pan Pacific Perth

H/C: Jesse Kornoff, Citigate Central Sydney

 

30. Human Resources Associate

Presented by: Franklyn Scholar

WINNER: Rowena Carter, 8Hotels

H/C: Nicolle Machuca, Four Points by Sheraton Sydney Darling Harbour

H/C: Che Lewer, Swiss Grand Resort and Spa Bondi Beach

 

31. Sales and Marketing Associate

Presented by: Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School

WINNER: Virginia Chong, Pan Pacific Perth

H/C: Nora Fakhouri, Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia-Pacific

H/C: Gwendolyne Parker, Fraser Suites Sydney

 

32. Communications Associate

Presented by: Travmedia.com

WINNER: Chelsea Steber, Hilton Surfers Paradise

WINNER: Tessa Anderssen, Toga Hotels

H/C: Joanne Wilkinson, Hamilton Island

 

33. Front Office Associate

Presented by: Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School

WINNER: Maria Macri Nosari, Sydney Harbour Marriott, NSW

H/C: Benjamin Nesbitt, Stamford Plaza Sydney Airport

H/C: Rebecca Davis, Novotel Canberra

 

34. Finance Associate

Presented by: Intrust Super

WINNER: Pierre Marechal, Four Points by Sheraton Sydney Darling Harbour

H/C: Olivia Ch'ng, Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia-Pacific

H/C: Ben Baillie, Radisson Resort Gold Coast

 

35. Housekeeper

Presented by: AHS

WINNER: Emil Beshay, The Langham Sydney

WINNER: Eric MacDonald, Crowne Plaza Melbourne

H/C: Susan Grumley, Mantra On Salt Beach

 

36. Hotel Engineer

Presented by: Miele

WINNER: Mario Castillo, Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa

H/C: Cyrus Tolentino, Sydney Harbour Marriott

H/C: Alan Wallbanks, Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach

 

37. Rising Star

Presented by: Intrust Super

WINNER: Tara Crisafi, The Sebel Residence Chatswood

H/C: Ashneel Chand, Tanoa Hotel Group

H/C: Harvinder (Harry) Kumar, Mantra on Murray

 

38. Service to the Industry

Presented by: HM magazine

WINNER: Tim Dearsley, Ibis Christchurch

 

Major Awards - All countries (Australia, NZ & Sth Pacific)

39. South Pacific General Manager

Presented by: Sealy

WINNER: Julian Moore, Pacific Resort Aitutaki

H/C: Bob Speed, WorldMark by Wyndham Resort Denarau Island

H/C: Peter Hopgood, Outrigger on the Lagoon, Fiji

 

40. New Zealand General Manager

Presented by: Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School

WINNER: Alistair Munro, Peppers Bluewater Resort

H/C: Paul Columbus, Novotel Auckland Airport

H/C: Wouter de Graaf, Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour

 

41. Australian General Manager

Presented by: Intrust Super

WINNER: Geoffrey York, Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains

H/C: Grant Raubenheimer, Pan Pacific Perth

H/C: Leah Feldmann, Mantra South Bank Brisbane

 

42. Environmental Program

Presented by: ISIS

WINNER: Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa

H/C: Accor Hotels

H/C: Fiordland Lodge, Te Anau

 

43. Hotel Brand

Presented by: AHS

WINNER: The Langham

H/C: Hilton

H/C: Pullman

 

44. Accommodation Chain

Presented by: Sealy

WINNER: Accor Hotels

H/C: Mantra Group

H/C: Toga Hotels

 

45. Hotel of the Year

Presented by: Sealy

WINNER: Park Hyatt Sydney

H/C: Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort

H/C: qualia, Hamilton Island

 

46. HM Magazine Australasian Hotelier of the Year

Presented by: HM magazine

WINNER: Paul Constantinou, Quest Serviced Apartments

H/C: Bob East, Mantra Group

H/C: Simon McGrath, Accor Hotels

 

47. HM Magazine Asia-Pacific Hotelier of the Year

Presented by: HM magazine

WINNER: Michael Issenberg, Accor Hotels

H/C: A. Patrick Imbardelli, Pan Pacific Hotels Group

H/C: Stephen Ho, Starwood Hotels and Resorts

 

Hall of Fame inductees

Grant Hunt, Anthology

Koos Klein, Voyages Indigenous Tourism

The Oatley Family, Hamilton Island