The buzzing atmosphere of the 2026 QHA Awards for Excellence set the tone for an unforgettable and truly iconic evening in Brisbane on 1 June 2026.
The 2026 QHA Awards for Excellence celebrated an important cornerstone of pub tradition — iconic pub games. The venue was dressed in a retro-themed colourway, and iconic gaming machines were placed throughout the space, where industry professionals could mingle and spark a friendly rivalry that embraced pub tradition.
Held at the Brisbane Exhibition Centre, the 33rd annual QHA Awards for Excellence welcomed over 1,600 hospitality members who gathered to celebrate the largest and most successful awards ceremony yet.
Congratulations to winners announced on the night.
2026 QHA Awards for Excellence Winners
- Hall of Fame — Best Retail Liquor Outlet — Eatons Hill Hotel
- Hall of Fame — Best Restaurant – Accommodation Division — Yamagen, QT Gold Coast
- Hall of Fame — Best Suite / Apartment Hotel — The Langham, Gold Coast
- Hall of Fame — Best Sporting Entertainment Venue — Burleigh Town Hotel
- Best Bistro – Metropolitan Division — Dakabin Hotel
- Best Bistro – Regional Division — Porters Plainland Hotel
- Best Hotel Bar – Accommodation Division — Fiume Rooftop Bar
- Best Hotel Bar – Metropolitan Division — Jim’s Bait & Tackle, The Full Moon Hotel
- Best Hotel Bar – Regional Division — The Linville Hotel
- Best Outdoor or Non-Enclosed Facility — Alphonsus Pizza Courtyard, The Glen Hotel
- Best Sporting Entertainment Venue — Orion Hotel
- Best TAB Licensed Venue — Broadbeach Tavern
- Best Redeveloped Hotel – Accommodation Division — DoubleTree by Hilton Cairns
- Best Redeveloped Hotel – General Division — Lord Stanley Hotel
- Front of House Employee of the Year – Accommodation Division — Phoebe Cox, W Brisbane
- Front of House Employee of the Year – General Division — Hugo Winten, Felons Brewing Co, Howard Smith Wharves
- Employee Excellence in Service – Accommodation Division — Kayne Camara, RACV Royal Pines Resort
- Employee Excellence in Service – General Division — Vania Su, The Prince Consort
- Hotel Industry Rising Star — Zoe Godde, AusVenueCo
- Best Hotel / Pub Style Accommodation — The Imperial Hotel Boutique Accommodation
- Best Suite / Apartment Hotel — Meriton Suites Surfers Paradise
- Best Mid-Range Accommodation — Four Points by Sheraton Brisbane
- Best Superior Accommodation — Crystalbrook Flynn
- Best Deluxe Accommodation — Spicers Peak Lodge
- Best Marketed Hotel – General Division — Cloudland
- Best Marketed Hotel – Accommodation Division — JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa
- Best Resort / Lifestyle Accommodation — JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa
- Best Entertainment Venue — Eatons Hill Hotel
- Best Family Dining — Mayfair Ridge Tavern
- Best Restaurant – Accommodation Division — Homage, Spicers Hidden Vale
- Best Restaurant – Metropolitan Division — Ciao, Howard Smith Wharves
- Best Restaurant – Regional Division — The Rock Toowoomba
- Chef of the Year — Hamish Watt, The Fireplace, InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort
- Best Retail Liquor Outlet — Bottlemart Walloon, Walloon Hotel
- Best Detached Bottleshop — The Reserve Cellar Wilston
- Best Draught Beer — Archive
- Best Environmental & Energy Efficiency Practise — Green Island Resort
- Best Gaming Venue – Metropolitan Division — Tingalpa Hotel
- Best Gaming Venue – Regional Division — Porters Plainland Hotel
- Best Meeting & Events Venue — Mondrian Gold Coast
- Best Tourism Initiative — Howard Smith Wharves
- Keno Outstanding Community Service & Achievement – General Division — Wellshot Hotel
- Keno Outstanding Community Service & Achievement – Accommodation Division — Mondrian Gold Coast
- Responsible Service – Alcohol — Osbourne Hotel
- Responsible Service – Gaming — Porters Plainland Hotel
- Outstanding Achievement in Training — The Full Moon Hotel
- Best Hotel Group Operator — Comiskey Group
- Overall Hotel of the Year – Accommodation Division — JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa
- Overall Hotel of the Year – Regional Division — Mayfair Ridge Tavern
- Overall Hotel of the Year – Metropolitan Division — The Full Moon Hotel
- Hotelier of the Year — David Comiskey & Robert Comiskey