The Gold Coast’s extravagantly luxurious Palazzo Versace, Sydney’s superbly positioned Shangri-La Hotel and Melbourne’s exquisite Crown Towers have emerged as winners in the search for the Top Three Hotels in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
The Australian trio won the HotelClub Awards’ premier accolade after some 70,000 consumers globally cast 120,000 votes.
Announcing winners in front of 300 hundred hospitality industry representatives at Sydney’s Entertainment Quarter, Managing Director of HotelClub, Ms Chloe Lim, said that the awards captured consumer opinion on achievement of exceptional standards.
“These awards are very much about voice-of-the-people and empowering consumer choice,†she said. “For hoteliers they provide valuable insight into the feelings of consumers worldwide.â€
As well as recognising the Top Three in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, voters selected the Top Three in each State and Territory of Australia, the Top Four in New Zealand (two North and two South Island) and the Top Two in the Pacific Islands.
Fiji’s Westin Denarau Island Resort and French Polynesia’s Pearl Beach Resort and Spa on Bora Bora Island were the pick of the Pacific.
In New Zealand, Auckland’s Skycity and Wellington’s InterContinental won North Island honours and Sofitel Queenstown Hotel & Spa and the Heritage Christchurch were the South Island’s best.
One of the most prestigious categories, the Best Service for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, was won by the Outrigger on the Lagoon on Fiji’s Coral Coast.
2008 HotelClub Awards – Winners
Top 3 Hotels in Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands
** Palazzo Versace Gold Coast, Queensland
** Shangri-La Hotel Sydney, NSW
*** Crown Towers Melbourne, Vic
Top 3 Hotels in NSW
*** Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney Sydney, NSW
*** Four Seasons Hotel Sydney Sydney, NSW
*** Lilianfels Blue Mountains Hotel Blue Mountains, NSW
Top Hotel in ACT
*** Hyatt Hotel Canberra Canberra, ACT
Top 3 Hotels in WA
*** Hyatt Regency Perth Perth, WA
*** Esplanade Hotel Fremantle Fremantle, WA
*** Cable Beach Club Resort Broome, WA
Top 3 Hotels in Victoria
*** Crown Towers Melbourne, Victoria
*** The Hotel Windsor Melbourne, Victoria
*** Four Points by Sheraton Geelong Geelong, Victoria
Top 3 Hotels in Queensland
*** Palazzo Versace Gold Coast, Queensland
*** Sheraton Mirage Resort & Spa Port Douglas, Queensland
*** Hotel Sofitel Brisbane Brisbane, Queensland
Top 3 Hotels in South Australia
*** Stamford Grand Adelaide Adelaide
*** Majestic Roof Garden Hotel Adelaide
*** Kangaroo Island Lodge Kangaroo Island
Top 2 Hotels in the Northern Territory
*** Sails in the Desert Hotel Ayers Rock, Northern Territory
*** Skycity Darwin Darwin, Northern Territory
Top 2 Hotels in Tasmania
*** Wrest Point Hobart, Tasmania
*** Cradle Mountain Lodge Via Sheffield, Tasmania
Top 2 Hotels in New Zealand – North Island
*** Skycity Auckland Auckland
*** InterContinental Wellington
Top 2 Hotels in New Zealand – South Island
*** Heritage Christchurch Christchurch
*** Sofitel Queenstown Hotel & Spa Queenstown,
Top 2 Hotels in the Pacific Islands
*** Westin Denarau Island Resort & Spa Denarau Island
*** Pearl Beach Resort & Spa Bora Bora Island, French Polynesia
Best 2 Chain Hotels
*** Accor Best Global Chain
*** Mirvac Hotels and Resorts Best Regional Chain
Best Service Hotel
*** Outrigger on the Lagoon Fiji Coral Coast
Best Affordable Hotel
*** Quality Hotel Cambridge Sydney, NSW
Best Apartment Group
*** Medina Apartment Hotels – Toga Hospitality
Best Boutique Hotel Club
*** Observatory Hotel Sydney, NSW
Best Hotel Bar
*** Star City Hotel Sydney, NSW
Best New Property
*** Miller Apartments Adelaide, SA
Journalists’ Choice
*** Palazzo Versace Gold Coast, Queensland.
A report by Michael Osborne
