By Annette Shailer
The AHA (VIC) State Awards for Excellence were held on Monday (Nov 9) recognising the state’s finest.
The hotel and hospitality members stepped out to celebrate the evening, which was held at the Palladium Ballroom at Crown Entertainment Complex, Melbourne.
The night was hosted by Vince Sorrenti and acknowledged finalists and winners across numerous categories, including standards of excellence in service, bar presentation, responsible service of alcohol, redevelopment, tourism and accommodation.
The winner of the Overall Hotel of the Year (Metropolitan) went to the Precinct Hotel in Richmond, while the Lord of the Isles Tavern in Newtown won the Country Overall Hotel of the Year Award.
Other big winners included the Red Lion Hotel in Ballarat which took out the Best Bar Presentation and Service Award, while Best Restaurant (Metropolitan) had joint winners Bouzy Rouge in Richmond and Lamaro’s in South Melbourne.
2009 AHA (VIC) State Awards for Excellence Winners
Best Bar Presentation & Service
Winner – Red Lion Hotel, Ballarat
Best PubTAB (Country)
Winner – Olive Tree Hotel, Sunbury
Best PubTAB (Metropolitan)
Winner – Sandbelt Hotel, Moorabbin
Best Menu & Wine List
Winner – Royal Mail Hotel, Dunkeld
Best Entertainment Venue
Winner – Northcote Social Club
Best Sporting Entertainment Venue
The Harp of Erin Hotel, East Kew
Best Theme Bar
Winner – Irish Murphy’s Ballarat
Best Presented Beer
Winner – Coopers Inn, Melbourne
Best Gaming Venue – with 50 machines or less (Country)
Winner – Olive Tree Hotel, Sunbury
Best Gaming Venue – with 50 machines or less (Metropolitan)
Winner – Ashley Hotel, Braybrook
Best Outdoor or Non-Enclosed Facility
Joint Winners – Criterion Hotel, Yarrawong; Precinct Hotel, Richmond
Best Retail Liquor Outlet
Winner – Rosstown Hotel, Carnegie
Best Bistro (Country)
Winner – The Beach Hotel, Jan Juc
Best Bistro (Metropolitan)
Winner – Mt Erica Hotel, Prahran
Hotel Industry Rising Star Award
Winner – Jeremy Green, Star Hotel, Sale
Outstanding Achievement in Training
Winner – Albion Hotel, Port Melbourne
Best Environment Practice
Winner – Grand Hotel Mornington
Outstanding Community Service & Achievement
Winner – Lower Plenty Hotel
Best Gaming Venue – with 51 machines or more (Country)
Winner – Kelly’s Motor Club Hotel, Cranbourne
Best Gaming Venue – with 51 machines or more (Metropolitan)
Winner – Gladstone Park Hotel
Best Marketed Hotel
Winner – Doutta Galla Hotel, Flemington
Best Pub-Style Accommodation – 2-3 Star
Winner – Yea Peppercorn Hotel
Best Redeveloped Hotel
Joint Winners – The Harp of Erin Hotel, East Kew; Lord of the Isles Tavern, Newtown
Best Casual/Family Dining
Winner – Star Hotel, Sale
Best Restaurant (Country)
Winner – Royal Mail Hotel, Dunkeld
Best Restaurant (Metropolitan)
Joint Winners – Bouzy Rouge, Richmond; Lamaro’s, South Melbourne
Excellence in Service (Front of House)
Winner – Emma Burnett, Lord of the Isles Tavern
Excellence in Service (Back of House)
Winner – Domenic Marzano, Bouzy Rouge
Overall Hotel of the Year (Country)
Winner – Lord of the Isles Tavern, Newtown
Overall Hotel of the Year (Metropolitan)
Winner – Precinct Hotel, Richmond
Nikakis Award
Joint Winners – Dorothy Houghton, Rye Hotel; Bernie Taylor, Grand Hotel Mornington