Geelong hotel named regional Victoria’s best

NOVOTEL Geelong has been crowned one of regional Victoria’s best hotels.

The establishment on the Geelong Waterfront received the title of Regional Accommodation of the Year in the 2024 Victorian Accommodation Awards for Excellence at a gala event in Melbourne last week.

Held annually, the awards recognise the breadth and diversity of the state’s hotel industry and acknowledge venues that excel in providing their guests with a top-tier customer experience.

Novotel Geelong general manager John Dickson said the hotel was very humbled and very appreciative of the recognition.

“It’s really a testament to the efforts and passion that the staff put in,” he said.

“We’ve been here for 25 years. The owner built the hotel and we’ve got some staff that have been here over 20 years.

“It really is great recognition for them and, at the end of the day, it’s the people that make the difference when someone stays in the hotel.

“We’re all going to celebrate this for a long, long time.”

He said it was the hotel’s great location on the Geelong Waterfront and its great people that continued to set the venue apart from its “strong competition”, despite some of the challenging conditions the hotel industry has faced nationwide since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’ve all had to work harder and staffing’s been an issue, but the guys have really, really put in and I want to really celebrate that and reward them,” Mr Dickson said.

Novotel Geelong has 109 guest rooms, each with a balcony, along with an indoor heated pool, steam room, fitness centre and dedicated function level with 11 spaces for meetings or conferences.

It is also home to Tempo Kitchen & Bar, a finalist in this year’s Regional Hotel Restaurant of the Year award category.

Accommodation Australia national chair Daniel Mansfield lauded the achievements of the establishments and individuals recognised for their service and innovation.

“While these awards are about reflecting on the incredible work that has been done over the past year, they are also about inspiring us to continue to evolve our industry for the better,” he said.

Novotel Geelong is now looking to the Australian Hotels Association’s National Awards for Excellence, slated for November 25.