In front of a crowd of more than 1500, the very best of Queensland’s Hotel and Tourism Accommodation were announced. In the 30th year of the Awards, winners
were acknowledged from right across the state – from outback pubs to huge modern accommodation hotels on the coast.
The most prestigious award, Hotelier of the Year, was taken home to Ilfracombe near Longreach by Tracy Hatch. Tracy is the owner of the Wellshot Hotel which has become known across Australia for the unique brand of hospitality and being the centre of a thriving country town. As Tracy remarked when winning the award,
“The hotel is just a building, it’s the people, the amazing staff (both past and present) and everything that is Ilfracombe that makes The Wellshot”.
Accommodation members contested many awards highlighting the variety that is available to tourists to the Sunshine State. A popular winner of the Best Overall Accommodation Hotel was The Langham on the Gold Coast, that had burst onto the local scene in the last year.
Best Overall Hotel (Regional) came from The Rix Hotel in Charters Towers. Noel and Jane Jesberg had backed up from winning one award last year in the restaurant category to two more in 2023 along with the Best Overall Hotel (Regional).
Best Overall Hotel (Metropolitan) was selected from many hotels that have won before and been successful at the national awards. In 2023 this award went to The Prince Consort, in Fortitude Valley. The Prince Consort has gone from strength to strength with multiple bars, meeting and convention space, gaming, live sport and a pumping live music scene. A worthy winner with an all-round level of excellence.
Each of the winners from the QHA Awards now are eligible to contest the Australian Hotels Association Awards for Excellence which will be presented in November at a gala event in Adelaide, Sth Australia with competition from across the country.
“With the amazing venues and accommodation properties that we have in Queensland, we are confident of another strong showing at the National Awards. We wish them all good fortune and look forward to supporting our members for another successful year.” said Bernie Hogan QHA Chief Executive.
“These awards show that in almost every corner of our state there are world-class experiences. Whether it is a deluxe stay in one of our iconic tourist destinations or simply a visit to your local, Queensland is leading the way in Australian hospitality. We couldn’t be more pleased how our members continue to provide jobs, training, entertainment and above all, a sense of community to locals and visitors alike” Mr Hogan said.
| Best Bistro – Metropolitan | The Calamvale Hotel | Brisbane | McGuires Hotels |
| Best Bistro – Regional | Lighthouse Hotel | Burnett Heads | |
| Best Deluxe Accommodation | The Langham | Gold Coast | Langham Hospitality Group |
| Best Detached Bottleshop | The Full Moon Hotel on Bramble Bay – Bottlemart Boondall Sue’s Korner | Brisbane | NT Pubco |
| Best Draught Beer | Osbourne Hotel | Fortitude Valley | Kickon Group |
| Best Entertainment Venue | Sandstone Point Hotel | Sandstone
Point | Comiskey Group |
| Best Environmental & Energy
Efficiency Practise | Scenic Rim Brewery and Cafe | Stanthorpe | |
| Best Family Dining | Logan Village Hotel | Logan | McGuires Hotels |
| Best Gaming Venue Metropolitan | Shearers Arms Tavern | Ormeau | |
| Best Gaming Venue Regional | Porters Plainland Hotel | Plainland | |
| Best Hotel Bar – Accommodation Division | Hotel X – Iris Rooftop | Fortitude Valley | Ghanem Group |
| Best Hotel Bar General
Division – Metropolitan | The Calamvale Hotel | Brisbane | McGuires Hotels |
| Best Hotel Bar General
Division – Regional | The Rix Hotel | Charters
Towers | |
| Best Hotel Group Operator | Comiskey Group | Comiskey Group | |
| Best Hotel Accommodation or Pub Style Accommodation | The Mucka Pub | Muckadilla | |
| Best Late Night Venue | Hey Chica! | Fortitude
Valley | Hallmark Group |
| Best Marketed Hotel –
Accommodation Division | The Langham | Gold Coast | Langham Hospitality Group |
| Best Marketed Hotel –
General Division | Maggie May Supperclub | Newstead | Hallmark Group |
| Best Meeting & Events
Venue | QT Gold Coast | Gold Coast | QT Gold Coast |
| Best Mid-Range
Accommodation | BIG4 Sandstone Point | Sandstone
Point | Comiskey Group |
| Best Outdoor/Non-Enclosed
Facility | Seaview Hotel | Townsville | Irvin Hotel Group |
| Best Redeveloped Hotel –
Accommodation Division | Hotel Indigo Brisbane City
Centre | Brisbane | Vista Hospitality Group |
| Best Redeveloped Hotel –
General Division | The Jubilee Hotel | Fortitude
Valley | TBH (Tony Burnett Hotels) |
| Best Restaurant –
Accommodation Division | Yamagen – QT Gold Coast | Gold Coast | QT Gold Coast |
| Best Restaurant General
Division – Metropolitan | Stanley | Brisbane | Howard Smith Wharves |
| Best Restaurant General
Division – Regional | Beast & Barrel The Rix Hotel | Charters
Towers | |
| Best Retail Liquor Outlet | Harry Brown Eatons Hill
Hotel | Brisbane | Comiskey Group |
| Best Sporting Entertainment
Venue | Burleigh Town Hotel | Gold Coast | Aus Venue Co |
| Best Suite/Apartment Hotel | The Langham | Gold Coast | Langham Hospitality Group |
| Best Superior Accommodation | Hotel Indigo Brisbane City Centre | Brisbane | Vista Hospitality Group |
| Best TAB Licenced Venue | The Caxton Hotel | Brisbane | – |
| Chef of the Year | Adam Lane – QT Gold Coast | Gold Coast | QT Gold Coast |
| Employee Excellence in Service – Accommodation Division | Bianca Melville – QT Gold Coast | QT Gold Coast | |
| Front of House Employee of
the Year – Accommodation Division | Sasha Konnor – Hotel X | Fortitude
Valley | InterContinental Hotels
Group |
| Front of House Employee of
the Year – General Division | Lucas Eckersley – Howard
Smith Wharves | Brisbane | Howard Smith Wharves |
| Hotel Industry Rising Star | Jinny Dinh – Meriton Suites
Southport | Gold Coast | Meriton Property Services |
| Keno Outstanding
Community Service & Achievement | The Prince Consort Hotel | Fortitude
Valley | Tilley & Willis Hotels |
| Outstanding Achievement in
Training | Howard Smith Wharves | Brisbane | |
| Responsible Service – Alcohol | The Alliance Hotel | Spring Hill | |
| Responsible Service –
Gaming | The Prince Consort Hotel | Fortitude
Valley | Tilley & Willis Hotels |
| Overall Hotel of the Year –
Accommodation |
The Langham |
Gold Coast |
Langham Hospitality Group |
| Overall Hotel of the Year – Regional |
The Rix Hotel | Charters Towers | |
| Overall Hotel of the Year – Metropolitan | Fortitude Valley | Tilley & Willis Hotels | |
| The Prince Consort Hotel | |||
| Hotelier of the Year | Tracy Hatch – Wellshot Hotel | Ilfracombe |