Country Club Tasmania named best hotel in State

The Country Club Tasmania in Launceston has been named the best hotel in the state at the Australian Hotels Association Tasmanian branch awards.

The property was recognised as the “Best Overall Hotel” ahead of all other entrants in the awards, with the winner deemed to be the one who has gained the best overall results across all categories.

Country Club Tasmania has undergone extensive renovations in the past three years with refurbishment of all rooms, including upgrading to 16 five-star Manor suites; refurbishment of The Terrace Restaurant to include a new 2400 bottle, temperature controlled wine room; and the building of the Watergarden bar and café area.

Federal Group properties won 14 awards and Country Club Tasmania was also presented with the Fine Dining Award for The Terrace Restaurant, and the award for Best Cellar Safety.  Its boutique casino was voted Best Gaming Venue and received Responsible Service of Gaming award.

Country Club Villas was named Best Mid-range Accommodation for the second year running, with the Villas currently nearing the end of the renovation of every room, expected to be completed early next year.

Wrest Point in Hobart was presented with awards for Best Marketed Establishment, and employee Roy Szymanski was recognised as the Best Employee (Kitchen), with Wrest Point having undergone an extensive re-branding and new marketing campaign in the past two years.

This has followed extensive renovations of the property in the past four years including Tasmania’s first five-star hotel suites, refurbished Water Edge and Mountain Side rooms, a new walkway separating the boutique casino from the general areas, and the new Pier One Restaurant and Bar set right on the property’s waterfront featuring the best in Modern Australian cuisine.

Ongoing refurbishment of the Wrest Point Conference Centre is also being completed.

Other awards were presented to the Federal Group’s Vantage Group properties: Claremont Hotel for Best Budget/Pub Style Accommodation and Outstanding Community Service and Achievement; Hotel Tasmania for the Best Entertainment Venue; and Hotel Federal was presented with the Kool Fuel Kids Dining award. Two Claremont Hotel employees were recognised for outstanding customer service, Nikki Long (Best Employee Gaming) and Suzette Price (Best Employee Front Office).

Federal Group Director of Entertainment and Gaming John Mortensen said, “We are very pleased to have our properties recognised by the industry for excellence in all areas – from accommodation and entertainment to customer service and marketing.”   “As a company, we constantly strive to exceed the reputation of excellence our customers have come to expect from the Federal Group”.

He added, “Awards such as these inspire us to maintain and improve upon our existing high standards of performance.”

Report by The Mole