Accor achieved resounding success at the 2020 HM Awards for Hotel and Accommodation Excellence in Sydney last Friday (27 November), collecting 21 coveted award wins for its properties, team members and initiatives across Australia and New Zealand.
Michael Issenberg, Chairman and CEO Accor Asia Pacific, received a double honour on the night – being named Asia-Pacific Hotelier of the Year and also inducted to the HM Magazine Hall of Fame for his service to the industry.
Accor’s commitment to the community and the environment was also celebrated at the awards. Accor’s ALL Heartist Fund, which provides support to Accor employees and partners through the health and economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, achieved joint winner of the Service to Community award and its single use plastic program has been recognised with a joint win of the Environmental Program award.
Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour has been crowned joint winner of the Australasian Hotel of the Year and Luxury Hotel of the Year awards. Mantra Epping has been awarded joint winner of the Midscale Hotel of the Year category and its Republic Tavern a joint winner of the Hotel Bar of the Year award.
Accor award wins extended regionally with Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge awarded Australian Lodge of the Year, its onsite Waldheim Alpine Spa took home Day Spa of the Year, Fairmont Resort & Spa Blue Mountains, MGallery by Sofitel joint won Regional Property of the Year, Peppers Parehua Martinborough took out New Zealand Regional Property of the Year, Grand Mercure Puka Park Resort in Coromandel Peninsula was awarded New Zealand Lodge of the Year, and Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant at Mount Lofty House – MGallery joint won Hotel Restaurant of the Year.
Accor prevailed in the people award categories with Jo Finnigan from Hotel St Moritz MGallery by Sofitel Queenstown being awarded New Zealand General Manager of the Year. Other wins on the night included Enrico Angeletti, Pullman Adelaide (joint Concierge winner), Jim Choi, Mount Lofty House – MGallery (joint Hotel Chef winner), Dakotah Bishop, Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour (joint Front Office Associate winner), Wendy Van Der Walt, Accor New Zealand (joint Finance Associate winner), Sharleen Wells, ibis Styles Kingsgate (joint Housekeeper winner), and Stephanie Scott, Pullman Sydney Airport (joint Rising Star winner).
Accor also achieved 28 Highly Commended accolades, including Simon McGrath in the Australasian Hotelier of the Year category and the Accommodation Chain of the Year category.
The annual HM Awards recognise the biggest and brightest stars in the accommodation industry across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, from individuals to properties, departments, brands and chains.
