On Wednesday 25 May we announced the winners of the 2017 Australian Hotel Guide Awards in a ceremony at QT Melbourne, with the generous support of Nespresso. The awards, presented by television personality and travel guru Catriona Rowntree, marked the launch of the 2017 Gourmet Traveller Australian Hotel Guide – published with the June issue of GT (on sale now).
QT Melbourne
QT Melbourne
The 2017 Australian Hotel Guide Awards, where the very best in the nation’s travel industry are recognised, was hosted by Gourmet Traveller at QT Melbourne, with support from Nespresso.
Photograph by Les Hallack.
Gourmet Traveller Australian Hotel Guide Awards
Gourmet Traveller Australian Hotel Guide Awards
Gourmet Traveller editor Sarah Oakes; Bauer Media general manager homes and food, Cornelia Schulze; Jackalope Hotels group general manager Tracy Atherton.
Photograph by Marcel Aucar
The arrival
The arrival
Guests were greeted with Champagne and Nespresso cocktails.
Photograph by Marcel Aucar
Sarah Oakes and Catriona Rowntree
Sarah Oakes and Catriona Rowntree
Gourmet Traveller editor Sarah Oakes; awards MC and television presenter Catriona Rowntree.
Photograph by Marcel Aucar.
Ocean trout tartare
Ocean trout tartare
Guests nibbled on canapés including ocean trout tartare, goat’s cheese tarts and mushroom arancini before the ceremony.
Photograph by Marcal Aucar.
Mushroom arancini
Mushroom arancini
Guests nibbled on canapés including ocean trout tartare, goat’s cheese tarts and mushroom arancini before the ceremony.
Photograph by Marcel Aucar.
The Silk Road Nespresso cocktail
The Silk Road Nespresso cocktail
The Nespresso cocktails, fresh from the shaker, with Sailor Jerry spiced rum, Fernet-Branca Menta, Mozart Dark Cacao liqueur, Nespresso shot and vanilla Demerara sugar syrup.
Photograph by Marcel Aucar.
The fun begins
The fun begins
The Olsen general manager Lee Davey; Yarra Valley Lodge general manager Carl Forrest; The Lancemore Group CEO Julian Clark.
Photograph by Marcel Aucar.
Pascale Bar and Grill
Pascale Bar and Grill
QT Melbourne’s Pascale Bar and Grill was the backdrop to the night’s proceedings.
Photograph by Marcel Aucar.
Goat’s cheese tarts
Goat’s cheese tarts
Guests nibbled on canapés including ocean trout tartare, goat’s cheese tarts and mushroom arancini before the ceremony.
Photograph by Marcel Aucar.
Autumn colours
Autumn colours
The room was filled with fresh flowers and foliage in autumnal hues, even decorating the vintage coffee machines from Nespresso.
Photograph by Marcel Aucar.
Guests arrive
Guests arrive
Genna Nibaldi and Deanna Christian of Carlton & United Breweries; Bauer Media key account director Kate Steven.
Photograph by Marcel Aucar.
Guests arrive
Guests arrive
The Langham Melbourne PR manager Tara Bishop; Jackalope Hotels group general manager Tracy Atherton.
Photograph by Marcel Aucar.
Tuna with kimchi and seaweed crackers
Tuna with kimchi and seaweed crackers
The entrée was chopped tuna and quick pickled carrot served with seaweed crackers, kimchi, sesame oil and bonito flakes.
Photograph by Marcal Aucar.
Best Minibar Award
Best Minibar Award
Como The Treasury general manager Anneke Brown accepts the award for Best Minibar 2017 from Gourmet Traveller editor Sarah Oakes.
Photograph by Marcel Aucar.
Robbins Island wagyu
Robbins Island wagyu
The ‘tomahawk’ – a dry rubbed, bone-in cut of wagyu from Robbins Island – was wood-roasted in a Josper oven and served with Nespresso roasted parsnips.
Photograph by Marcel Aucar.
Best Service Award
Best Service Award
The award for Best Service went to Halcyon House for the second year, thanks in large part to general manager Mauro De Riso, pictured here with Gourmet Traveller editor Sarah Oakes.
Photograph by Marcel Aucar.
Cornelia Schulze and Stephen Mahoney
Cornelia Schulze and Stephen Mahoney
Bauer Media general manager homes and food, Cornelia Schulze and Stephen Mahoney, Etihad senior manager corporate communications, Australia.
Photograph by Marcel Aucar.
QT Melbourne wins two awards
QT Melbourne wins two awards
Troy Cuthbertson, general manager, QT Melbourne accepts the award for Large Hotel of the Year. The latest in QT’s stable of hotels in Australia and New Zealand, QT Melbourne also won the award for Best Bar.
Photograph by Marcel Aucar.
The sides
The sides
Sides included roasted pumpkin with quinoa, coriander and spring onion, charred Brussels sprouts with bacon vinaigrette and beef-fat roasted potatoes.
Photograph by Marcel Aucar.
Boutique Hotel of the Year
Boutique Hotel of the Year
Timo Bures, general manager, The Old Clare Hotel accepts the award for Boutique Hotel of the Year 2017.
Photograph by Marcel Aucar.
Night of nights
Night of nights
Leading lights of the hotel industry take the chance to have a night off.
Photograph by Marcel Aucar.
Dessert is served
Dessert is served
Napoléon’s Blanky, a raspberry mille feuille, is presented beneath a ‘blanket’ of raspberry set with agar-agar.
Photograph by Marcel Aucar.
And the winner is
And the winner is
Mornington Peninsula newcomer Jackalope won a trifecta of awards: Regional Hotel of the Year, New Hotel of the Year and the coveted Hotel of the Year.
Jackalope Hotels group general manager Tracy Atherton; Jackalope owner Louis Li; Jackalope Group general manager Emily Makiv.
Photograph by Marcel Aucar.
On the stage
On the stage
Bauer Media general manager homes and food, Cornelia Schulze; Gourmet Traveller editor Sarah Oakes; Jackalope Hotels group general manager Tracy Atherton; Loic Réthoré, General Manager, Nespresso Australia and Oceania.
Photograph by Marcel Aucar.
Siobhan and Elisha Bickle
Siobhan and Elisha Bickle
Halcyon House owners Siobhan and Elisha Bickle.
Photograph by Marcel Aucar.
