The finalists for the 2020 AHA-Aon Hospitality Awards for Excellence have been announced, with an outstanding field of nominees showcasing the strength of WA’s hospitality industry despite a challenging and turbulent year.
AHA(WA) CEO Bradley Woods said there had been unprecedented levels of interest in this year’s awards, with venues presenting exceptionally high quality nominations across 41 award categories.
“Hotels and hospitality venues throughout WA have faced their most challenging year in living memory but the response we have received to these awards demonstrates their unwavering strength in the face of adversity,” Mr Woods said.
“COVID-19 presented extreme challenges and we are certainly not out of the woods just yet, but our industry can be proud of the leadership role it played in both reopening the state’s economy and in ensuring people can get back out in their community to socialise safely.”
“The quality of the finalists this year is extraordinary and we are reminded of the fact that WA’s hospitality industry has matured dramatically over the past decade, with world-class accommodation, food and beverage offerings from Broome to Esperance and throughout metropolitan Perth.”
“Staff are the most important asset to any hospitality business and these awards are an opportunity for owners and operators to recognise their key personnel as well as those who go the extra mile to deliver outstanding service to customers and guests.”
“Across WA bars are pushing the boundaries of innovation, restaurants are constantly striving to reach culinary perfection, businesses are selflessly serving their communities and staff are providing exceptional customer service – these awards are a way of recognising and celebrating the pursuit and attainment of excellence.”
The 2020 AHA-Aon Hospitality Awards for Excellence will be presented at Crown Perth on Monday 16 November at the White Claw Gala Ball. It is expected that this event will be one of, if not the, largest hospitality industry events of 2020.
The complete list of finalists can be found below.
FINALISTS
2020 AHA-AON HOSPITALITY
AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE
GENERAL AWARDS
Community Service Award
Finalists
Blanche Bar, Karratha
Blend Café, Melville
Drop Inn, Warnbro
Froth Craft Brewery, Exmouth
Ocean View Tavern, Neerabup
Bobbys BBQ Truck – Pan Pacific, Perth
Roey – Roebuck Bay Hotel, Broome
Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
The Henley Brook
The Marina Mindarie
White Salt, Sorrento
Training Initiative Award
Finalists
Blanche Bar, Karratha
Drop Inn, Warnbro
Il Lido Italian Canteen, Cottesloe
Pan Pacific Perth
Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
The Ritz-Carlton, Perth
Varsity Group, Perth
Retail Bottleshop Award
Finalists
Eaton Tavern
Haynes Bar and Grill, Armadale
The Ashby
The Gate Bar & Bistro, Success
Aon Risk Solutions Responsible Service of Alcohol Award
Finalists
Blanche Bar, Karratha
Crown Perth
Drop Inn, Warnbro
Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
The Old Synagogue, Fremantle
Draught Beer Quality Award
Finalists
Black Brewing Co, Wilyabrup
Blanche Bar, Karratha
HADIQA, Perth
Little Creatures, Fremantle
The Flour Factory, Perth
The Galway Hooker, Scarborough
The Lucky Shag Waterfront Bar, Perth
The Shoe Bar & Café, Perth
The Lion Beer Australia Bar Presentation and Service Award
Finalists
Bar Bizu, West Perth
Boston Brewing Co. – Vic Park
Drop Inn, Warnbro
Little Creatures, Fremantle
Miners Rest Motel, Kalgoorlie
Stadium 26, Karratha
The Amberton, Eglington
The Beach House – Eden Beach
The Lucky Shag Waterfront Bar, Perth
The Boat – The Marina Mindarie
The Old Synagogue, Fremantle
Songbird Bar – The Ritz-Carlton, Perth
The Sandbar Scarborough Beach
Whitfords Brewing Co.
Small Bar Award
Finalists
Bar Bizu, West Perth
Beerpourium, Fremantle
Bobeche, Perth
Brewvino, Mandurah
Caballitos, Perth
Fiorita Wine Bar and Restaurant, Karratha
Tiki As FK, Northbridge
Varnish On King, Perth
Cocktail Bar Award
Finalists
Bobeche, Perth
TWR – Crown Towers Perth
Fiorita Wine Bar and Restaurant, Karratha
Goody Two’s, Perth
HADIQA, Perth
Lot20, Perth
The Old Synagogue, Fremantle
Songbird Bar The Ritz-Carlton, Perth
Tiki As FK, Northbridge
Late Night Venue Award
Finalists
Caballitos, Perth
Goody Two’s, Perth
Market Grounds, Perth
Nevermind Smallclub, Northbridge
Niche Bar, Leederville
The Rechabite, Northbridge
Tiki As FK, Northbridge
Universal Bar, Perth
Varnish On King, Perth
Tourism Initiative Award
Finalists
Blanche Bar, Karratha
Froth Craft Brewery, Exmouth
Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
Conference and Functions Award
Finalists
HADIQA, Perth
Ocean View Tavern
The Flour Factory
The Marina Mindarie
The Rechabite
The Ritz-Carlton, Perth
Outdoor Area Award
Finalists
Boston Brewing Co, Denmark
C.Y. O’Connor Village Pub, Piara Waters
Froth Craft Brewery, Exmouth
Market Grounds, Perth
Onyx On Sharpe, Karratha
Perth Racing, Ascot
Rambla Bar & Bistro, Wickham
Roebuck Bay Hotel, Broome
Rosemount Hotel, North Perth
Swings & Roundabouts, Yallingup
The Bridge Garden Bar, Mandurah
The Forest Lodge Resort, Pemberton
The Gate Bar & Bistro, Success
The Boat, The Marina Mindarie
The Old Synagogue, Fremantle
The Rechabite, Northbridge
Songbird Bar – The Ritz-Carlton, Perth
Whalebone Brewing Company, Exmouth
Broken Hill Hotel, Victoria Park
Boutique Brewery Award
Finalists
Beerfarm, Metricup
Black Brewing Co, Wilyabrup
Boston Brewing Co, Denmark
Froth Craft Brewery, Exmouth
Indian Ocean Brewing Co. – The Marina Mindarie
Whalebone Brewing Company, Exmouth
Redeveloped Venue Award
Finalists
Bar Bizu, West Perth
Broken Hill Hotel, Victoria Park
Fiorita Wine Bar and Restaurant, Karratha
Miners Rest Motel, Kalgoorlie
Pooles Temple – State Buildings, Perth
Swings & Roundabouts, Yallingup
The Flour Factory, Perth
The Kingsley Tavern
New Venue Award
Finalists
Beerpourium, Fremantle
Boston Brewing Co, Victoria Park
Brewvino, Mandurah
Joeys Swan Valley Diner, Herne Hill
Miss Chows, South Perth
Palace Arcade, Victoria Park
Stadium 26, Karratha
The Amberton, Eglington
The Beach House, Eden Beach
The Galway Hooker, Scraborough
The Old Synagogue, Fremantle
The Rechabite, Northbridge
Hearth – The Ritz-Carlton, Perth
The Royal Hotel, Perth
Social Media Activity Award
Finalists
Black Brewing Co, Wilyabrup
Fiorita Wine Bar and Restaurant, Karratha
Miss Chows, South Perth
Nevermind Smallclub, Northbridge
State Buildings, Perth
The Beach House, Eden Beach
The Henley Brook
The Old Synagogue, Fremantle
The Peach Pit, Scraborough
The Rechabite, Northbridge
The Ritz-Carlton, Perth
The Royal Hotel, Perth
Varsity Bar Project, Morley
Sneakers & Jeans (Caballitos, Goody Two’s, The Flour Factory, Varnish on King)
DINING AWARDS
Contemporary Bar Menu Award
Finalists
Bar Bizu, West Perth
Blanche Bar, Karratha
Brewvino, Mandurah
The Best Brew Bar Four Points by Sheraton, Perth
Market Grounds, Perth
The Beach House, Eden Beach
The Old Synagogue, Fremantle
The Peninsula Bar & Restaurant, Mandurah
Varnish On King, Perth
Casual Pub Dining Award – Metropolitan
Finalists
Albion Hotel, Cottesloe
Balmoral Hotel, Victoria Park
Boston Brewing Co, Victoria Park
Broken Hill Hotel, Victoria Park
Byford Tavern
C.Y. O’Connor Village Pub, Piara Waters
Carine Glades Tavern, Duncraig
Greenwood Hotel
Mayfair Lane Pub & Dining Room, West Perth
The Amberton, Eglington
The Brook Bar & Bistro, Ellenbrook
The Gate Bar & Bistro, Success
The Karalee on Preston, Como
The Lucky Shag Waterfront Bar, Perth
Indian Ocean Brewing Co. – The Marina Mindarie
The Old Synagogue, Fremantle
The Royal Hotel, Perth
The Sandbar Scarborough Beach
The Shoe Bar & Café, Perth
Casual Pub Dining Award – Regional
Finalists
Black Brewing Co, Wilyabrup
Boston Brewing Co, Denmark
Fitzroy River Lodge, Fitzroy Crossing
Freemasons Hotel, Geraldton
Froth Craft Brewery, Exmouth
Hybla Bar and Grill, Middleton Beach
Miners Rest Motel, Kalgoorlie
Onyx On Sharpe, Karratha
Rambla Bar & Bistro, Wickham
Roebuck Bay Hotel, Broome
Stadium 26, Karratha
The Bridge Garden Bar, Mandurah
The Peninsula Bar & Restaurant, Mandurah
Family Dining Award
Finalists
Blend Café, Melville
Boston Brewing Co, Denmark
C.Y. O’Connor Village Pub, Piara Waters
Fire Water Grill – Duxton Hotel, Perth
High Wycombe Tavern
Joeys Swan Valley Diner, Herne Hill
Kailis Fish Market Café, Fremantle
Onyx On Sharpe, Karratha
Rustlers Steakhouse and Grill, Albany
The Amberton, Eglington
The Bridge Garden Bar, Mandurah
The Henley Brook
The Boat, The Marina Mindarie
The Sandbar Scarborough Beach
Whalebone Brewing Company, Exmouth
Restaurant Award
Finalists
Shadow Wine Bar – Alex Hotel, Perth
Black Swan Winery, Henley Brook
Burnt Barrel, Nanson
Canteen Pizza, Cottesloe
HADIQA, Perth
Il Lido Italian Canteen, Cottesloe
No Mafia, Northbridge
UMA – Pan Pacific, Perth
HQ – Quay Perth
The Heritage Wine Bar, Perth
Tonic & Ginger – The Old Synagogue, Fremantle
The Peninsula Bar & Restaurant, Mandurah
Hearth – The Ritz-Carlton, Perth
Fleur – The Royal Hotel, Perth
The Shorehouse, Swanbourne
Garum – The Westin, Perth
White Salt, Sorrento
Wine List Award
Finalists
Canteen Pizza, Cottesloe
Bistro Guillaume – Crown Perth, Burswood
Fiorita Wine Bar and Restaurant, Karratha
HADIQA, Perth
Il Lido Italian Canteen, Cottesloe
Island Market Trigg
Mayfair Lane Pub & Dining Room, West Perth
No Mafia, Northbridge
Uma – Pan Pacific, Perth
Petition Wine Merchant Cellar & Bar – State Buildings, Perth
The Heritage Wine Bar, Perth
Tonic & Ginger – The Old Synagogue, Fremantle
Hearth – The Ritz-Carlton, Perth
The Shorehouse, Swanbourne
Garum – The Westin, Perth
Varnish On King, Perth
ENTERTAINMENT AWARDS
TAB Hotel/PubTAB Venue Award
Finalists
Carine Glades Tavern, Duncraig
Rambla Bar & Bistro, Wickham
Sporting Entertainment Venue Award
Finalists
Crown Sports Bar – Crown Perth, Burswood
Greenwood Hotel
Perth Racing, Ascot
Rambla Bar & Bistro, Wickham
Stadium 26, Karratha
Varsity Bar, Joondalup
Live Entertainment Venue Award
Finalists
Badlands Bar, Perth
Comedy Lounge, Perth
Crown Theatre – Crown Perth, Burswood
Freemasons Hotel, Geraldton
Froth Craft Brewery, Exmouth
Ocean View Tavern, Neerabup
Onyx On Sharpe, Karratha
Roebuck Bay Hotel, Broome
Pooles Temple – State Buildings, Perth
Universal Bar, Perth
Whalebone Brewing Company, Exmouth
Themed Venue Award
Finalists
Caballitos, Perth
HADIQA, Perth
No Mafia, Northbrige
Palace Arcade, Victoria Park
The Galway Hooker, Scarborough
Varsity Bar, Waterford
EMPLOYEE AWARDS
Rising Star Award
Finalists
Sharon Blettner, Blend Cafe
Chuan-Jen Wang, Crown Perth – Silks
Tamara Baggio, Drop Inn
Liam Hall, Haynes Bar and Grill
CJ Cura, Pan Pacific Perth
Elysha Ayers, The Marina Mindarie
Michael Hegerty, The Old Synagogue Pty Ltd
Ana Katrina Lim, The Ritz-Carlton, Perth
Emma Parker, The Shorehouse
Ciaran D’Monte –Doyle, The Westin Perth
Ieesha Parker, Universal Bar
Jessica Spedding, White Salt
Cookery Services Employee Award
Finalists
Deborah Coslette, Crown Perth – Merrywell
Harman Sidhu, Four Points by Sheraton Perth
Rado Pastorek, HADIQA
Gianni Moretto, Pan Pacific Perth
Emily Turner, Rustlers Steakhouse and Grill
Jade Jones, The Flour Factory
Shannon Holdsworth, The Old Synagogue Pty Ltd
Martin Lau, The Ritz-Carlton, Perth
Head Chef Award
Finalists
Wendy Miedzinski, Belgian Beer Cafe Westende
Shane MCKay, Belmont Hotel
Ameidhi Cooroopdass, Boston Brewing Co, Victoria Park
Samuel Labrosciano, Broken Hill Hotel
Nathan Kirk, Drop Inn
Nicholas Woolard, Fiorita Wine Bar and Restaurant
Jett Alexander, HADIQA
Johary Hobman, Haynes Bar and Grill
Peter Claeys, Herdsman Lake Tavern
Alan Johnson, Mayfair Lane Pub & Dining Room
Xerxes Bodhanwala, Pan Pacific Perth
James Keogh, Queens Tavern
Ganesh Subedi, Rambla Bar & Bistro
Alonso De Romana, Settlers Tavern
Matthew Sartori, Wild Flower – State Buildings
Troy Black, The Gate Bar & Bistro
Matthew Caruli, The Heritage Wine Bar
Aaron Coates, The Kwinana Local
Leigh Power, The Old Synagogue Pty Ltd
Danny Feng, The Ritz-Carlton, Perth
Nicole Finlay, The Wanneroo Tavern
Food and Beverage Services Employee Award
Finalists
Byron Bacchioni, Blanche Bar
Roshani Pawar, Chakra Restaurant
Emma Gannon, Haynes Bar and Grill
Taylor Oldacres-Dear Leisure Inn Rockingham
Shuang Qiao (Sharon), Pan Pacific Perth
Rebecca Licastro, Rambla Bar & Bistro
Fergus Gugenheim, Rustlers Steakhouse and Grill
Nicholas Cullen, The Lucky Shag Waterfront Bar
Mandy Chew , The Rechabite
Mathieu Fichot, The Ritz-Carlton, Perth – Hearth
Glenn Dolinski, The Westin Perth
Ashleigh Skinner, Universal Bar
Jack Leech, White Salt
Front Office and Administration Employee Award
Finalists
Karen Walsh, ALH Group
Cara Maslin, Black Swan Winery
Laura Credaro, Boston Brewing Co.
Hong Thu Phan-Nguyen, Crown Perth
Emma Kay, Mayfair Lane Pub & Dining Room
Justin Bennett, Pan Pacific Perth
Sharon Schaafsma, Settlers Tavern
Daniella Moore, The Brass Monkey
Chantelle Smith-Greenwood, The Bridge Garden Bar
Chiara Dichiera, The Ritz-Carlton, Perth
Mikaela Murchie, The Westin Perth
Montana Scudder, Universal Bar
PubTAB Operator Award
Finalists
Tracey Tylor, Beeches Tavern
Vanessa Bozanich, Eaton Tavern
Renee Corbett , Mt Henry Tavern
Cocktail Bartender Award
Finalists
Tyron Bennett, Duxton Hotel Perth
Craig Slater, Fiorita Wine Bar and Restaurant
Savanna McDonald, State Buildings
Verity Coles, The Flour Factory
Patrick Carpenter, The Heritage Wine Bar – Bobeche
Bjorn Karason, Tiki As FK
Peter Spence, Universal Bar
Excellence in Service Award
Finalists
Vikki Watson, Coolgardie Gold Rush Motels
Philomena Ellia, Duxton Hotel Perth
Wayne Hammond, Fiorita Wine Bar and Restaurant
Kelly Kent, Haynes Bar and Grill
Sally Worsley, Leisure Inn Rockingham
Mina Sharifnia, Pan Pacific Perth
Louwana Dowling, Rustlers Steakhouse and Grill
Nick Trolio, The Gate Bar & Bistro
Georgina Rodgers, The Rechabite
Ljiljana Miric, The Ritz-Carlton, Perth
Jermey Cole, Universal Bar
Venue Manager Award
Finalists
Troy Landers, Balmoral Hotel
Steeve Lindecker, Nobu – Crown Perth
Joshua Drakeford, Greenwood Hotel
Amie Forshaw, HADIQA
Robert Steward, Haynes Bar and Grill
Tom Batros, Little Creatures
Jessica Mason, Miners Rest Motel
Camilla Ure, Pan Pacific Perth
Tony Favazzo, Perth Racing
Jamie Puls, Rustlers Steakhouse and Grill
Maria Fucci, Settlers Tavern
James Broadhurst, State Buildings
Mitch Panting, The Brass Monkey
Lisa Edwards, The Brook Bar & Bistro
Michael Strom, The Gate Bar & Bistro
Reuben Dias, The Karalee on Preston
Robyn Brennan, The Marina Mindarie
Stephen Hollow, The Ritz-Carlton, Perth
Jason Juraszek, Universal Bar
Bar Team Award
Finalists
Caballitos, Perth
Drop Inn, Warnbro
Fiorita Wine Bar and Restaurant, Karratha
Haynes Bar and Grill, Armadale
Lot20, Perth
Nevermind Smallclub, Northbridge
Pan Pacific Perth
Rustlers Steakhouse and Grill, Albany
The Peninsula Bar & Restaurant, Mandurah
The Rechabite, Northbridge
Universal Bar, Perth
OVERALL AWARDS
Group Venue Operator Award
Finalists
Blanche Bar Group
TMG Hospitality
Kailis Hospitality Group
ARK Group – Market Grounds
Sneakers & Jeans
Varsity Group
