THE story continues at Australia's first storytelling hotel after MACq01 was named Best Deluxe Accommodation at the national tourism awards for the second year in a row. 

MACq01 Hotel on Hobart's waterfront was crowned at the QANTAS Australian Tourism Awards last night; beating out tough competition from around the country. 

Federal Group opened the acclaimed hotel in mid-2017 and within six weeks it had rocketed to the top spot on TripAdvisor.  

MACq01 General Manager Jake Smith thanked guests, his hotel team and the Tasmanian community for their support.  

“I'm fiercely proud of the journey that our dedicated team have been on the last three years and am grateful for each of their contributions, as well as the Federal Group and the Farrell Family for entrusting us to bring such a wonderful concept to life,” he said.  

“Two and a half years on from opening, we're not the 'new hotel' anymore, so it's deeply rewarding to be recognised as achieving tourism excellence through our industry-leading approaches to customer service, marketing and strategy, community engagement and sustainability. 

“We are committed to strengthening our partnerships with organisations like Colony47 and Beacon Foundation to help inspire a new generation of hospitality professionals and support people in our communities who need it most,” Jake said.  

The QANTAS Australian Tourism Awards were held on the banks of Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra last night, Friday 6th March.

This latest award comes soon after winning Best Accessible Accommodation at the 2019 THA and Drysdale Awards for Excellence. The hotel's newest bar, Evolve Spirits Bar, was named Tasmanian Bar of the Year and Best Hotel Bar in Australia at the Bartender Magazine Australian Bar Awards in 2019, and Best Specialty Bar at the THA and Drysdale Awards for Excellence. 

Other finalists in the Deluxe Accommodation category were Little National Hotel, Canberra; Wallaroo Marina Apartments, SA; Empire Apartment Hotel, Rockhampton; Crowne Plaza, Alice Springs; Fairmont Resort and Spa, Blue Mountains; Kununurra Country Club Resort; and Novotel Geelong.  

MACq 01 Hotel is proudly owned by Tasmania's leading tourism and hospitality company Federal Group which also operates the award-winning luxury lodge Saffire Freycinet and The Henry Jones Art Hotel.

ENDS ======== 

Susie Cretan 
Media and Community Specialist  
MACq 01 
Susie.cretan@federalgroup.com.au 
03 6221 1634 / 0408 135 555