REVEALED: All the winners from the 2019 TAA NSW Awards for Excellence

REVEALED: All the winners from the 2019 TAA NSW Awards for Excellence
By Christian Fleetwood


The very best in NSW hospitality have been revealed at the night of nights for the tourism accommodation industry.

The state’s multi-billion-dollar tourism accommodation sector was celebrated last night at the 2019 Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA) NSW Awards for Excellence, where more than 300 nominees were condensed into 32 winners across as many categories.

Among the winners were The Darling for Deluxe Hotel of the Year, Fairmont Resort & Spa Blue Mountains, MGallery by Sofitel for Regional Superior Hotel of the Year, and The Langham, which won three awards including Outstanding Achievement in Training.

Fairmont also received the award for Best Conference and Events Centre of the Year at the TAA NSW Awards.

Emirates One & Only Wolgan Valley was inducted into the TAA Hall of Fame, having received consecutive wins at the awards over the past five years, for “setting a new standard in quality innovation professionalism”.

The awards also honoured individual excellence in hospitality, with Francesco Mannelli from Four Seasons Sydney the winner of Chef of the Year and Melissa Davies taking the title of Hotel Industry Rising Star, among others.

TAA NSW Chair Antony Page told the audience the awards welcomed a “new era” for the state’s peak accommodation body.

“Our priorities are simple: to continue to be the leading organisation representing the accommodation sector in NSW … to represent our members at all levels of government. To continue to provide the best in legal and industrial relations advice and membership services.

“To continue working to secure cheaper energy prices for our members through a ground-breaking power purchase agreement, and to continue to keep the focus on the issues of unregulated accommodation and the skills and labour shortage affecting our industry. That is our commitment to you.

“I congratulate all finalists and winners for truly setting the standard for our industry.”

An audience of 750 industry and political leaders were in attendance, with NSW Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism Stuart Ayres; Shadow Federal Tourism Minister Senator Don Farrell; Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Penny Sharpe; Sydney Deputy Lord Mayor Linda Scott; and AHA National President Scott Leach there to congratulate the winners.

Many of the state’s best-known hotels took out awards at the event, including:

  • Deluxe Hotel of the Year: The Darling, Sydney
  • Metropolitan Superior Hotel of the Year: Rydges World Square, Sydney
  • Regional Superior Hotel of the Year: Fairmont Resort & Spa Blue Mountains – MGallery by Sofitel
  • Mid-Range Hotel of the Year: Holiday Inn Sydney Airport (the property’s Sasha McAlister was highly commended for Marketing Talent of the Year)
  • Redeveloped/Refurbished Hotel of the Year: Novotel Sydney International Airport (the hotel’s Katie Collings won Hotel Industry Rising Star)
  • Apartment/Suite Hotel of the Year: Fraser Suites Sydney
  • Restaurant of the Year (Deluxe Hotels): Altitude Restaurant, Shangr-La Hotel, Sydney
  • Restaurant of the Year (Mid-Range Superior): Platform 818, Mercure, Sydney.

TAA NSW and National CEO Michael Johnson said the awards night was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and showcase the exceptional standard of the NSW accommodation industry.

“The combined efforts of the tourism and accommodation sectors means NSW is now the leader in both international and domestic visitation,” he said.

“The fact we, as a state, can provide exemplary accommodation options such as those represented at the Awards for Excellence, means we are setting the standard for Australian tourism.

“I congratulate all our winners for their hard work and tireless commitment to excellence.”

For the full list of TAA NSW Award winners, visit: www.taanswawards.com.au.

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