Jackalope named Australia's Hotel of the Year
Jackalope, a brand new hotel on the Mornington Peninsula, has already been named Australia’s Hotel of the Year at the annual Gourmet Traveller Australian Hotel Guide Awards.
And it only opened in April.
The 46 room hotel is tucked away on the Victorian coast. It’s a combination of a 143-year-old Mornington Peninsula homestead and a winery.
Jackalope also scored the trifecta, being named New Hotel of the Year and Regional Hotel of the Year.
Jackalope owner Louis Li, the 29-year-old Chinese-born entrepreneur, said he drew his inspiration from MONA in Hobart.
"I think MONA gave me the confidence that people would appreciate a daring, bold vision in this part of the world," Li told Gourmet Traveller. "Luxury should be defined by rarity."
Jackalope took out the honours at the annual Gourmet Traveller Australian Hotel Guide Awards during a glittering dinner at QT Melbourne.
Fittingly enough, the host hotel QT Melbourne which only opened in September last year, was named Large Hotel of the Year.
QT also picked up the Best Bar award for its rooftop cocktail terrace with commanding city-skyline view.
The coveted award for Best Club Sandwich went to The Louise, in South Australia's Barossa Valley. It has established itself as an eatery that offers an unconventional version featuring prime regional produce.
Como The Treasury in Perth picked up the gong for Best Minibar with its offering of quality drinks and house-made snacks.
Presented by television personality and travel guru Catriona Rowntree, the awards marked the launch of the 2017 Gourmet Traveller Australian Hotel Guide. It will be published with the June issue of GT which goes on sale 25 May.
Other award winners were:
Boutique Hotel of the Year: The Old Clare Hotel, Sydney, NSW
Best Service: Halcyon House, Cabarita Beach, NSW
Best Breakfast: Grand Hyatt Melbourne, Vic
Best Pool: The Johnson, Brisbane, Qld
by Leon Gettler, May 25th 2017
