The Queensland Hotels Association Awards for Excellence provides members with the opportunity to showcase their venue and reward their 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 venues.
From the QHA President
There’s more than 40 different award categories up for grabs at the QHA Awards for Excellence, and we are thrilled to be able to judge the best of the best.
Nominating member venues and individual staff is simple and inexpensive. Our industry judges will then critique the nominations and, if applicable, attend your venue via an anonymous site visit. Winners of the QHA Awards for Excellence will be announced at the annual Gala Dinner and Presentation evening, being held at the Brisbane Convention Centre on Monday 30th June 2025.
The QHA Awards for Excellence is the highlight of the Queensland hotel calendar, bringing together our partners, hotel members, and supporters from all corners of the state to celebrate our vibrant industry and recognise the hotels that have achieved excellence. Further to this, the QHA award winners and finalists are the most highly recommended providers by the QHA and are marketed within their own rights via all QHA collateral including the QHA Review magazine, social media, and word of mouth.
Those successful in specific categories will then have the opportunity to compete as a finalist in the Australian Hotels Association (AHA) National Hotel Awards to be held in Brisbane on November 24th 2025.
I look forward to celebrating your achievements with you.
Richard Deery
2025 Award Categories
Accommodation Division
- Best Hotel or Pub-Style Accommodation
- Best Restaurant – Accommodation
- Best Marketed Hotel – Accommodation
- Best Mid-Range Accommodation
- Best Redeveloped Hotel – Accommodation
- Best Suite/Apartment Hotel
- Best Superior Accommodation
- Best Deluxe Accommodation
- Best Hotel Bar – Accommodation
- Disability Inclusion & Access Award – Accommodation
Overall Awards
- Responsible Service – Gaming
- Responsible Service – Alcohol
- Overall Hotel of the Year – Regional
- Overall Hotel of the Year – Accommodation
- Overall Hotel of the Year – Metropolitan
- Hotelier of the Year
General Division
- Best Late Night Venue
- Best Hotel Bar – Metropolitan
- Best Hotel Bar – Regional
- Best Entertainment Venue
- Best Restaurant – Metropolitan
- Best Restaurant – Regional
- Best Outdoor Non-Enclosed Facility
- Best Bistro – Regional
- Best Bistro – Metropolitan
- Best Family Dining
- Best Retail Liquor Outlet
- Best Detached Bottleshop
- Best Sporting Entertainment Venue
- Best Redeveloped Hotel – General
- Best Gaming Venue – Metropolitan
- Best Gaming Venue – Regional
- Best TAB Licenced Venue
- Best Marketed Hotel – General
- Best Draught Beer
- Disability Inclusion & Access Award – General
Individual Awards
- Chef of the Year
- Front of House Employee of the Year – General Division
- Front of House Employee of the Year – Accommodation Division
- Employee Excellence in Service – General Division
- Employee Excellence in Service – Accommodation Division
- Hotel Industry Rising Star
Performance Awards
- Best Environmental & Energy Efficiency Practise
- Keno Outstanding Community Service & Achievement – General Division
- Keno Outstanding Community Service & Achievement – Accommodation Division
- Best Tourism Initiative
- Best Meeting & Events Venue
- Outstanding Achievement in Training
- Best Hotel Group Operator
Special thanks to our platinum partners
