The Queensland Hotels Association Awards for Excellence program provides members the opportunity to showcase your venue and reward your hard-working staff members, on a local, state, and national level. For the finalists and winners, it also brings additional marketing, advertising and media opportunities that are invaluable to your hotel.
With more than 45 different award categories up for grabs expanding across your classic pub, nightlife venues and accommodation – there is something for every venue!
All state AHA branches work together to align their award processes to ensure the majority of the state awards are eligible for national consideration. As part of this process, there has been a change to the fee structure, streamlining the process for accommodation properties to nominate as they will no longer be required to provide an overnight voucher with their submission.
2024 Nomination Fees
$99 per award category, per venue, capped at $396 per venue regardless of how many awards you nominate for.
Hotels nominating in the below categories will be invoiced to reimburse one night’s accommodation – in a standard room, or a room of your selection, plus carparking, if required.
- Best Hotel/Pub Style Accommodation
- Best Mid-Range Accommodation
- Best Suite/Apartment Hotel
- Best Superior Accommodation
- Best Deluxe Accommodation
If you’re new to the QHA, or if you haven’t nominated for an award before, it really is a simple and straight-forward process.
Step 1.
Visit www.qha.org.au to see what awards your venue is eligible for. As well as General (traditional hotels) and Accommodation Divisions, many of the awards are split into Metropolitan and Regional sub-categories, providing a level playing field for all members. You’ll find the breakdown on these regions on the website.
Step 2.
Work on your submission. Each award has a list of dot-points that you need to address as part of your submission. Every award you nominate for will require a separate submission. There’s no need to get too fancy here – a word document is fine. Think about this as if you were applying for a job – your covering letter should highlight the unique things that your venue has to offer so the judges know what to look for when they arrive, whilst the resume addresses the criteria. Is your chicken parmi the best chicken parmi around? Or maybe your bartender makes the best Spicy Margs south of Mexico? Let the judges know so they can try them!
Step 3.
Upload your nomination to the QHA website. As well as your submission (that’s the ‘cover letter’ and ‘resume’ part) you need to supply a minimum of 3x high-res images per nomination. Make sure the photos you upload are relevant to the award category. For example, if you are nominating for a food award, your photos should be of your dining room/s and some dishes. If you’re nominating a staff member, please include a clear head-shot of them. If you’re nominating a sub venue, like a specific bar within your hotel, make sure this is clearly identified in both the submission and the images. It’s also great if you include a ‘hero shot’ of your venue – that’s the one where it looks it’s best!
You’ll also need to be ready to submit payment via credit card (sorry no AMEX or diners) or you can request an invoice.
You’ll receive an automated ‘Receipt of Nomination’ email if your upload is successful.’
For our individual awards, nominees will be required to submit a video interview through the program FaceCruit. Individual awards will still be required to submit a cover letter and resume and any other important supporting documentation found on the criteria sheets. Only shortlisted applicants will receive a telephone interview.
Step 4.
Let the judging begin! Every venue that nominates will be assessed by an independent industry expert who will provide their scores and feedback to QHA. This will happen secret-shopper style so the judge remains anonymous, although at the end of their visit, they will leave a calling card with a staff member, so you know they have been. If you haven’t received a card by the end of the judging period, please contact the QHA.
Step 5.
Finalists are announced on the QHA website and social media channels. Finalists will also receive an individual certificate, sent to the email address provided in your submission. Gala dinner tickets will also go on sale at this time.
Step 6.
The awards night! Dust off your bow tie and bring out your best frock -it’s time to celebrate your achievements with more than 1,700 industry peers and supporters at the Brisbane Exhibition and Convention Centre, Southbank. Tickets will be available for purchase for $249pp or $2,490 for a table of 10. Your ticket includes a 3-course meal, 5.5 hour premium beverage package, entertainment and more.
Step 7.
Post-awards. If you’re a winner – congratulations! Your contact details and submission will be sent to the AHA for you to re-nominate for a national award. The AHA will be in contact with you soon after this, regarding payment.
All nominees are eligible to request a copy of their judges feedback after the awards night.
KEY DATES
- 4 December – Nominations open
- 4 February, midnight – Nominations close. Nominations received after this time will not be accepted.
- 9 February – 28 March – Judging period
- 22 April – Finalists announced
- 22 April – 17 May – QHA Gala Presentation Dinner ticket sales open
- 3 June – QHA Gala Presentation Dinner, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
- 25 November – AHA National Award Presentation, Brisbane
If you’re still unsure of the process, you’ll find more information under the FAQ tab on the website or contact the events team on (07) 3221 6999 for further advice.