BY JAMES WILKINSON
Australasia’s leading Hoteliers have praised their staff for consistently good service in victory speeches and press releases following the 2011 HM Awards for Hotel and Accommodation Excellence presented by Sealy, held in Sydney last Friday night (Sep 2).
Held in front of a record audience of 600 hoteliers, industry leaders and major suppliers at the prestigious Sydney Town Hall, the HM Awards were hosted by television personality Larry Emdur and recognised accommodation excellence across 48 categories in 2011.
Following the company’s seven Awards and eight Highly Commended commendations, Accor Hotels’ Vice President – Australia, Simon McGrath said he was especially pleased to see the hard work of individuals being recognised.
“We all know that it is the people who add the special magic to any hotel experience so I am pleased to see so many people being recognised for their hard work at these awards,” he said.
“We were very honoured to win Accommodation Chain of the Year as 2010-11 was a record year for our hotels in Australia, and it recognises the significant upgrades we have made across the network to our brands and our services,” he said.
Accor won Accommodation Chain of the Year, New Zealand Hotelier of the Year (Paul Richardson), along with New Zealand Hotel (Sofitel Queenstown), Service to the Community (Mercure Sydney), Hotel Chef (Brendon Coffey from Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa), Food and Beverage Associate (Cherie Stubbs-Timberey from Swiss Grand Resort and Spa, Bondi Beach) and Sales and Marketing Associate (Blair Weir from Sofitel Melbourne on Collins).
On the back of Toga Hospitality’s three wins (Economy Hotel – Travelodge Docklands, Midscale Hotel – Vibe Hotel Rushcutters and Marketing Campaign – Vibe Hotels) at the HM Awards, CEO Rachel Argaman said: “We are thrilled that the industry has recognised us for these awards.
“Our success is the result of continued commitment to our team’s achievements and the strength in our brands. We look forward to another year of growth and excellent results,” she said.
Across the Tasman, Blanket Bay’s General Manager Philip Jenkins said he was delighted with winning New Zealand Lodge of the Year.
“This HM Award again illustrates our staff’s consistently high service standards, and the resultant guest satisfaction that comes from Blanket Bay’s unique blend of luxury and location,” he said.
“The success of Blanket Bay is based upon this significant growth in demand for small luxury hotels that offer truly intimate hospitality and local flavor in stunning destinations,” Jenkins said.
The 2011 HM Awards were hosted by HM magazine, presented by Sealy, and co-hosted by AHS Hospitality, Intrust Super, ISIS and Philips.
For a full list of winners at the 2011 HM Awards, visit: http://13.115.84.75/2011/09/03/winners-announced-in-the-2011-hm-awards/