“These awards highlight the industry-leading service standards and initiatives that have made our InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn brands so successful in this region. I am especially delighted that so many individuals were recognised at the awards, which is a testament to their extraordinary achievements and the support and dedication shown by their colleagues,” said InterContinental Hotels Group Chief Operating Officer Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, Keith Barr.

Some of the individual awards included Rooms Division Employee of the Year, which went to Damien Crook of Crowne Plaza Terrigal. This was complemented by Crowne Plaza Parramatta’s Shaun Vassallo, who was named Food and Beverage Employee of the Year.

High Commendations went to Parramatta’s Claudine Estyphans in the Employee Excellence in Service category, and to Terrigal’s Jenny Robinson in the Human Resources Employee of The Year section. Crowne Plaza Darling Harbour’s Cheong Tse was also Highly Commended in the Chef of The Year category.

Crowne Plaza Terrigal stood out from a list of sensational nominees to be recognised as the Superior Regional Property of The Year, while Crowne Plaza Newcastle did the same in the Deluxe category. These wins were made sweeter as the Group’s two Hunter Coast properties prepare to welcome a third hotel to their ranks, Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley later in the year.

InterContinental Sydney also achieved a major coup when Mint Bar and Dining received the Bar of The Year award. Launched in 2004, Mint’s latest award demonstrates it is still one of Sydney’s hottest dining and night spots.

At the ACT region awards, Crowne Plaza Canberra won a whopping three awards including Best Deluxe Accommodation, Best Bar Employee for Binara One manager, Dave Kingsberg and Best Restaurant Service Employee for redsalt supervisor, Glen Smith.

Each of the award winners will be entered into the national Australian Hotel Awards later in the year.

“It is great to see such a variety of accolades that draw attention to the many areas of our business, and the AHA is to be congratulated for their focus on the behind-the-scenes roles that are vitally important to the success of our brands and hotels. I would like to publicly congratulate our many winners, and am very much looking forward to the national awards,” Keith said.