The Australian Hotels Association of South Australia (AHA SA) hosted its annual awards show at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Wednesday night (18 October).
More than 900 guest from South Australia’s hotels industry were in attendance, which featured entertainment from the Hindley Street Country Club and The Cast, and was hosted by Mark Soderstrom.
Ian Horne, AHA SA General Manager, explained that the awards had been expanded this year.
“This year the lens was widened for the first time to honour the Best Overall Hotel in three categories – metropolitan, regional and accommodation,” Horne said.
It was a good night for the Adelaide Hills based Stirling Hotel, which picked up three awards, including the coveted major award of Best Overall Hotel – Metropolitan. The hotel also triumphed in Best Bistro Casual Dining for the Outer Metropolitan category, and Best Retail Outlet (which it shared with Marion Hotel).
In the country categories, the Loxton hotel took home the title of Best Overall Hotel – Country, as well as Best Bar Presentation, and Best Redeveloped Hotel, both also in the country category.
In the accommodation division, Eos by SkyCity was honoured with the title of Best Overall Hotel – Accomodation, also receiving the awards for awards for Best Deluxe Hotel Accommodation, Best Outdoor non-enclosed Facility – Metropolitan (joint winner with 2KW) and Best Environmental & Energy Efficiency Practice.
“Congratulations to the Stirling Hotel, the Loxton Hotel and Eos by SkyCity for achieving best in class in their respective categories, and to all winners of the 2022 Hotel Awards for Excellence,” Horne commented.
A special award was created for Bill Spurr AO, who served as South Australian Tourism Commission Chief Executive from 1998 to 2007, and passed away earlier this year. The W.T. Spurr AO Award for Tourism and Regional Promotion was given to the Watervale Hotel. The hotel, which is located in the Clare Valley, is described as appealing to the epicurean tourist and eco-tourist alike.
The Watervale also won Best Restaurant – General Division Country, the third consecutive year it has achieved this title. This feat was matched by Adelaide’s 2KW, which won Adelaide’s Best Restaurant – General Division Metropolitan, also for the the third year running.
2022 marked the first time an award for Best Family Dining was given, with the Belair Hotel taking out the category – having ‘wowed the judges with its modern dining space, extensive children’s menu and large playground to cater for all members of the family.’
“We are thrilled to honour the winners of the 2022 Hotel Industry Awards for Excellence,” Horne added.
“South Australia can rightly claim to have some of the best establishments in the nation, from city to country, from the local pub to the luxury five-star hotel, and despite a challenging few years, South Australian hotels are continuing to raise the bar in terms of innovation, presentation and service. We are immensely proud to be representing this incredible industry.
“All SA winners will now be entered into the AHA National Hotel Awards, to be held in Sydney on 28 November.”
A full list of winners is below:
| CATEGORY | Winner | Judges Commendation |
| Draught Beer Quality | Malt Shovel Taphouse Adelaide | |
| Family Dining | Belair Hotel | |
| Bistro Casual Dining – Country | Dalrymple Hotel, Stansbury – Joint Winner | |
| Bistro Casual Dining – Country | Sevenhill Hotel – Joint Winner | |
| Bistro Casual Dining – Inner Metropolitan | Cremorne Hotel | |
| Bistro Casual Dining – Outer Metropolitan | Stirling Hotel | Feathers Hotel |
| Restaurant – General Division Country | Watervale Hotel | |
| Restaurant – General Division Metropolitan | 2KW Bar & Restaurant | |
| Restaurant – Accommodation Division | Sofitel Adelaide | |
| Bar Presentation & Experience – Country | Loxton Hotel | |
| Bar Presentation & Experience – Metropolitan | Peninsula Hotel | Paloma Bar & Pantry |
| Mid-Range Hotel Accommodation | ibis Adelaide | |
| Apartment/Suite Accommodation | The Palms Apartments | |
| Boutique/Superior Hotel Accommodation | Crafers Hotel |
| Deluxe Hotel Accommodation | Eos by SkyCity | |
| Meeting & Events Venue – Specialist/Accommodation Division | Adelaide Oval | |
| Meeting & Events Venue – General Division | Marion Hotel | |
| Outdoor or non-enclosed Facility – Country | Watervale Hotel | |
| Outdoor or non-enclosed Facility – Metro | 2KW Bar & Restaurant – Joint Winner | |
| Outdoor or non-enclosed Facility – Metro | Eos by SkyCity – Joint Winner | |
| Retail Liquor Outlet | Stirling Hotel – Joint Winner | |
| Retail Liquor Outlet | Marion Hotel – Joint Winner | |
| Sporting Entertainment Venue | Warradale Hotel | The District – SkyCity |
| Live Music Venue | Governor Hindmarsh Hotel | |
| Entertainment Venue | Arkaba Hotel | |
| Gaming Venue – Country | Bushman’s Arms Hotel | Loxton Hotel |
| Gaming Venue – Metropolitan | Woodville Hotel | Rezz Hotel |
| TAB Licensed Venue | Marryatville Hotel | |
| Marketing & Promotion | Mayfair Hotel Adelaide – Joint Winner | |
| Marketing & Promotion | Maylands Hotel – Joint Winner | |
| Environmental & Energy Efficiency Practice | Eos by SkyCity | |
| W.T. Spurr AO Award for Tourism & Regional Promotion | Watervale Hotel | |
| Community Service & Support | Highway Hotel | |
| Redeveloped Hotel – Country | Loxton Hotel | |
| Redeveloped Hotel – Metropolitan | Rezz Hotel | |
| Chef of the Year | Uraidla Hotel – Anna Kittel | |
| Hotel Industry Rising Star | Eos by SkyCity – Meg Anderson – Joint Winner | |
| Hotel Industry Rising Star | Beach Hotel Seaford – Zara Burnside – Joint Winner | |
| Best Overall Hotel – Accommodation Division | Eos by SkyCity | |
| Best Overall Hotel – Country | Loxton Hotel | |
| Best Overall Hotel – Metropolitan | Stirling Hotel |