Feast of best Tassie has to offer

THE cream of the crop of Tasmania’s hospitality and tourism industries were celebrated at a gala event in Hobart last night. Major awards were handed out for the state’s finest in accommodation and dining, as well as two prestigious individual honours at the Tasmanian Hospitality Association awards night, which was also proudly supported by TasTAFE/Drysdale. Almost 50 awards were presented at the gala dinner at Wrest Point Hotel last night. Karen Burbury, managing director of Launceston’s Cataract on Paterson, won the Premier’s Award for Contribution to the Community. Using her skills in marketing and promotion across the country, from news media to hospitality, Karen’s commitment to the restaurant also led to her being named the 2015 Tasmanian Telstra Business Women’s Awards Start-Up winner, and awarded the 2016 Telstra New Business B Award. In the other major award to an individual, in the Hospitality Minister’s Award A for Contribution to the Industry In was presented to Robert Dutton, one of the directors of Tasmanian Hotel Catering Supplies. Mr Dutton and his management teamte have been recognised for their dedicationd and experience in the past,p receiving the 2015 Federal ResortsR of Tasmania Supplier of the YearY award in both General and the DistributorD categories. In major industry awards handedh out last night, MACq01 Hotel on Hobart’s waterfront was named Accommodation Venue of theth Year (Metro). It was an extremely successful nightn for the hotel, which claimed fourfo other awards: Best Bar PresentationP and Service; Best New Tourism Initiative; Best Restaurant in a Hotel or AccommodationA Venue; and BestB Superior Hotel Accommodation. A Tasmanian Hospitality Association general manager Steve Old said the passion evidentev within the industry

was a credit to the state’s thriving status.

“The THA Awards for Excellence are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the very best hospitality venues and staff achievements in Tasmania,” Mr Old said.

Driftwood Restaurant at Lauderdale was named the Regional Restaurant of the Year.

The Hotel/Pub Tavern of the Year (Regional) award went to The Richmond Arms Hotel, which was also honoured for Best Pub-Style Accommodation.

The Formby Hotel at Devonport won the Metro category, as well as Best Bistro Dining.

Tasmania’s East Coast also featured prominently in last night’s awards.

Bay Restaurant at Freycinet Lodge won Best Seafood Restaurant, and Saffire Freycinet was named Best Deluxe Hotel Accommodation and Accommodation Venue of the Year (Regional).

The Country Club in Launceston collected two awards: Best Meeting and Events Venue, and the Draught Beer Quality Award.

According to Tourism Research Australia, the tourism industry alone makes up 7.9 per cent of the state’s workforce, directly supporting about 18,900 jobs.

Premier Will Hodgman, who is also the Minister for Tourism, Hospitality and Events, said supporting tourism and hospitality, which were two of the state’s most powerful industries, was key to economic growth in Tasmania.

“Our economy is strong,’’ Mr Hodgman said.

“Employment has grown every month for the past two years. It is fair to say that no industry has contributed more to this turnaround than the tourism and hospitality industry.”.

A number of businesses won their category for the second year running, including Vantage Group (Outstanding Achievement in Training and Workforce Development), The Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel (Outstanding Community Service and Achievement), Black Cow Bistro (Best Steak Restaurant), Maldini (Best Italian Restaurant), Annapurna Salamanca (Best Indian Restaurant), Zero Davey Boutique Apartments (Best Apartment Suite Hotel), and Frogmore Creek (Best Stand Alone Restaurant).

The Lounge by Frogmore Creek also won Restaurant of the Year.

The Bridport Bunker Club was once again awarded Best RSL, Sporting or Community Club.

Tall Timbers in the state’s North-West also made the list again. Last year’s Best New Tourism Initiative and Hotel or Accommodation Venue of the Year (Regional) winner was this year named Best Marketed Establishment.

Willie Smith’s Apple Shed also had two great reasons to celebrate. The brewery’s venue manager Cara McEwen was named Ambassador of the Year, and the Apple Shed also took out the Veolia Best Environmental and Recycling Practice.

The Beltana Hotel, which had previously been named Best Sports bar, this year claimed the Best Wagering Initiative award.

Three Little Ducks at Bellerive was heralded as this year’s Best Cafe.

The always popular Harbour Lights Cafe on Hobart’s waterfront took out the award for Best Breakfast Venue.

One of the state’s newest city hotels, the vibrant Ibis Styles, was honoured with Best Accessible Accommodation and Best Asian Restaurant for Mr Good Guy.

Mr Old passed on his congratulations to all winners and said the recognition was thoroughly deserved.

“It is the only awards program in the country that covers every aspect of the industry and doesn’t require venues to be members of the association to partake in the awards,” he said.

“So all winners on the night can rightfully claim the title of ‘The Best in Tasmania’ in their category.”

Individual winners and representatives will now be invited to attend the Australian Hotels Association National Awards for Excellence at the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort on the Gold Coast on September 17.