Restaurant & Catering Awards for Excellence spotlights the best of the best
Queensland’s Restaurant & Catering businesses have come together for the industry’s night of nights to celebrate and reward outstanding achievements in the 2012 Savour Australia™ Restaurant & Catering HOSTPLUS Awards for Excellence Program. More than 260 restaurant and catering businesses were recognised at a gala ceremony tonight (10th September) held at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The Awards for Excellence are judged by a team of trained judges who anonymously visit venues to determine the winners. This year saw a hotly contested program with the best of the best receiving winner’s acclaim. Restaurants were fielded into 4 regions, Northern Queensland, Brisbane/ Darling Downs, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. Caterers competed within Northern Queensland and South East Queensland regions.
Restaurant & Catering CEO John Hart commented that “the Awards for Excellence represent an important moment as the industry pauses to honour these outstanding venues that have been anonymously judged and rigorously reviewed against the entire dining experience rather than a single food or service dimension.”
The Major Award for Restaurant of the Year 2012 by region, was received by Spicers Peak Lodge, Maryvale (Brisbane/ Darling Downs), Essence, Jupiters Townsville (Northern QLD) and Moo Moo Wine Bar & Grill, Broadbeach (Gold Coast).
Caterer of the Year 2012, Northern Queensland went to Townsville RSL, Hermit Park and South East Queensland Caterer of the Year 2012 was received by Gambaro Restaurant & Function Centre, Petrie Terrace.
The Savour Australia Consumer Vote Award went to Lure Restaurant & Bar, Port Douglas (Northern QLD) and Sirocco Noosa, Noosa Heads (South East QLD).
John Kilroy restaurateur of iconic Cha Cha Char Wine Bar & Grill, Brisbane was honoured as Lifetime Achiever 2012 in recognition of his innovative and outstanding contribution to the industry.
Restaurant & Catering is delighted to congratulate all winners and finalists in Queensland who participated in this year’s Awards Program. 2012 has seen a tough climate for restaurant and catering businesses that have experienced a huge growth in wage costs and regulation that has made most restaurants only marginally viable. The industry is also seeing issues such as shortages of skilled workers, decreases in average spend and uncertainty of the effects of the pending Carbon Tax detracting from their bottom line.
The success of the Queensland winners shows the resilience of these businesses and the Association commends them on their success. The Awards for Excellence Program is committed to supporting the professionalism and sustainability of the Australian hospitality industry. The Awards are the most dependable and authoritative guide to Australia’s best restaurants and caterers and provide an opportunity to gain needed competitive differentiation for businesses involved.
Winners of National categories will now be competing in the National finals representing being held in at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre on 29 October this year.
Please click here to view the Winners List for a complete list of category winners in the 2012 Savour Australia™ Restaurant & Catering HOSTPLUS Awards for Excellence – Queensland.
THANK YOU TO OUR MAJOR SPONSORS:
Source: Restaurant & Catering, 10th September 2012
