Port hotel’s grand win at AHA awards

ON the back of completing its $10 million refurbishment 10 months ago, the Portarlington Grand Hotel has struck two huge wins at the 2023 Australian Hotels Association (AHA) Victoria State Awards for Excellence.

Victoria’s top pubs, hotels and venue staff were all celebrated across 39 award categories at a gala dinner on Monday this week at the Palladium at Crown in Melbourne.

Portarlington Grand Hotel took out top spot in both the Best Hotel Accommodation and Best Redeveloped Food and Beverage Hotel categories.

“It was a terrific night as a whole, we were over the moon to come away with two wins and four nomination,” venue general manager Mark Henderson said.

“It sort of vindicates what Paul Little [of owners The Little Group] was able to do with the money he invested into renovating the hotel, because no one else would have done what he did.

“He’s not only helped restore this beautiful hotel and put 80 people in jobs, but it has retained a vital part of the community fabric here in Portarlington.”

Hotel operations manager Paul Gundry said the entire team dedicated itself to ensuring everyone that stayed at the hotel was cared for at the highest standard.

“It all comes from the rooms manager Miki Monahan and her accommodation team and housekeeping team.

“They put a ridiculous amount of effort into making sure their service is impeccable, they go to extreme effort to make everyone feel welcome, it’s just a massive team effort and it’s second to none.”

Elsewhere in the region, the Grovedale Hotel had wins in the Ian Larkin Overall Hotel of the Year (Regional), Best Sports Bar (Regional), Best PubTAB (Regional) and Best Gaming Venue (Regional).

The Torquay Hotel represented the Surf Coast on the night, taking home Best Live Entertainment Venue.

Other local finalists in the AHA (Vic) awards were:

* Jamie Francis Collins from the Beach Hotel in Jan Juc in Local Legends
* Sawyers Arms Tavern in Newtown in Best Pub Restaurant (Regional)
* Grovedale Hotel, Torquay Hotel and Telegraph Hotel in Geelong West in Best Casual Dining (Regional)
* Grovedale Hotel and Portarlington Grand Hotel in Best Pub Bar (Regional)
* Sawyers Arms Hotel in Parma of the Year
* Great Ocean Road Brewhouse in Apollo Bay in Best Retail Liquor OutletBarwon Heads Hotel, Great Ocean Road Brewhouse, Portarlington Grand Hotel and Torquay Hotel in Best Outdoor Experience (Regional)
* Telegraph Hotel in Best Rooftop Experience
* Barwon Heads Hotel and Torquay Hotel in Best PubTAB (Regional), and
* Torquay Hotel in Best Gaming Venue (Regional).