More than 600 industry and political leaders from NSW’s tourist accommodation sector came together for a long-awaited night of celebration on Wednesday to recognize the leading performers at the 2022 Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA) NSW Awards for Excellence .
Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley won the grand prize of the evening, Luxury Hotel of the Year, while Crown Towers Sydney took the Highly Commended award. The Star Sydney has been named Metropolitan Superior Hotel of the Year, while team members at Four Seasons, Sydney have won a number of coveted awards, including Concierge of the Year, Pastry Chef of the Year, Sales and Marketing Talent of the Year and Highly Congratulations for the rising star in the hospitality industry.
The Langham, Sydney was again recognized for its outstanding community contribution, while Rydges Newcastle won Midscale Hotel of the Year and Crystalbrook Byron was named Redeveloped/Renovated Hotel of the Year.
Apartment/Suite Hotel of the Year went to Skye Suites, Sydney.
“We were incredibly honored to have been nominated not once, but three times at our Sydney hotels for this category,” said Skye Suites, Australasia, Hotel Manager, David Bowen.
“Our Property General Manager, Melaine Robinson, has created the perfect combination of a commercial function with a resort feel. With her dedicated team and attention to detail, Melaine has continued to meet all industry standards and to stand out in a city full of 5-star properties, which is no small feat on top of tackling over two years of COVID.
The event’s top Hotel Manager of the Year award went to Shaun O’Bryan of 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 both a level of compassion and humility to his role and is known for looking after his team.
“During the pandemic, we have seen thousands of people abandon our hotels to work in other industries, but our inductee has only lost a handful. Their loyalty is the greatest reward a leader can ever hope to receive,” Johnson said.
The gala at Sydney’s Fullerton Hotel saw the TAA and the Accommodation Association (AA) come together for the first time in a formal awards ceremony, as key industry bodies close in on the merger with Accommodation Australia.
TAA NSW Chairman Richard Doyle welcomed Accommodation Association members to the awards for the first time, saying it was “another step in the successful merger of our two great associations “.
The full list of winners of the TAA NSW Awards for Excellence 2022:
BEST INNOVATION PROJECT
WINNER: Rydges Sydney Central
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED: Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley
OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION
WINNER: The Langham, Sydney
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED: Rydges Sydney Airport
BEST MARKETING CAMPAIGN
WINNER: Hyatt Regency Sydney
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED: Shangri La Sydney
ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: James Finn Rydges World Square
FINANCIAL TALENT OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Stephen Shao Mercury Sydney
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED: Teresa Rotondo Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbor
REVENUE/PERFORMANCE TALENT OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Priscilla Nealon PARKROYAL Parramatta
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED: Amber Sarney Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley
FOOD AND DRINK TALENT OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Julie-Ann Pooley The Star Sydney
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED: Adam Lau Four Seasons Sydney Hotel
SALES AND MARKETING TALENT OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Maria Mellino Four Seasons Hotel Sydney
HIGHLY APPRECIATED: Sophie Meng The Langham, Sydney
CONCIERGE OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Josh Blake Four Seasons Hotel Sydney
TALENT OF THE YEAR IN HUMAN RESOURCES
WINNER: Lauren Carinci Crown Towers Sydney
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Annika Spaans Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney
ROOMS DIVISION TALENT OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Jade Bradshaw Pier One Sydney Harbor
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Nathan Kengike West Hotel Sydney, Curio Collection by Hilton
EMPLOYEE EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE
WINNER: Sophie Bruneau Crown Towers Sydney
governess of the year
WINNER: Rochak Karki InterContinental Sydney
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Bijay Maharjan Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbor
COOK OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Michael Elfwing Spicers Guest House
PASTRY CHEF OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Quentin Zerr Four Seasons Hotel Sydney
RISING STAR IN THE HOTEL INDUSTRY
COMMON WINNERS:
Domenic Torrisi Pier 1 Sydney Harbor
Emma Lombard Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbor
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Akanksha Sanan Four Seasons Hotel Sydney
HOTEL MANAGER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Shaun O’Bryan Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort & Elysia Wellness Retreat
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Chris Kemlo Crown Towers Sydney
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR (MID-RANGE – SUPERIOR)
WINNER: Monsieur Percy The Woolstore 1888 by Ovolo
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Cucina Porto The Star Sydney
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR (DE LUXE)
WINNER: Amara Spicers Sangoma Retreat
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Atelier by Sofitel Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbor
BREWERY/CAFÉ OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Bistro Manly Manly Pacific
BAR OF THE YEAR (MID-RANGE – UPPER)
WINNER: Two Doctors Whiskey Tavern Fairmont Resort & Spa Blue Mountains – MGallery Collection
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Monsieur Percy The Woolstore 1888 by Ovolo
BAR OF THE YEAR (DELUXE)
WINNER: Cirq Crown Towers Sydney
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Rombergs Crystalbrook Kingsley
HEALTH CLUB AND SPA FACILITIES OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Crown Spa Sydney Crown Towers Sydney
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Chi, The Spa Shangri-La Sydney
REDEVELOPED/RENOVATED HOTEL OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Crystalbrook Byron
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Hilton Sydney
APARTMENT/SUITE HOTEL OF THE YEAR
WINNER: SKYE Suites Sydney
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Fraser Suites Sydney
MID-RANGE HOTEL OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Rydges Newcastle
METROPOLITAN SUPERIOR HOTEL OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Sydney Star
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Hyatt Regency Sydney
REGIONAL SUPERIOR HOTEL OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Spicers Sangoma Retreat
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury Valley
HALL OF FAME
Inductee: Peter Tudehope Radisson Hotel Group
LUXURY HOTEL OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Crown Towers Sydney
