QHA Awards for Excellence Press Release

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.