See the WA winners from the AHA accommodation awards announced on Monday, April 15.
At the Crown Towers on Monday night, April 15th, the Australian Hotels Association (WA) announced the winners of the 2024 AHA Perth Airport Accommodation Awards for Excellence.
The big winners were The Ritz-Carlton, who won WA’s Best Metro Accommodation Hotel Award, and Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa in Broome, who won WA’s Best Regional Accommodation Hotel Award for the third consecutive year, securing their position in the Hall of Fame. We reviewed the eight hotels awarded prizes for excellence in accommodation, food and wine.
1. DoubleTree by Hilton, Perth
Best ‘All Abilities’ Hotel Award
The ‘All Abilities Hotel Award’ is for venues committed to increased inclusivity and going beyond the basic legal requirements for people living with disabilities.
DoubleTree by Hilton has modified a number of King-sized rooms with accessible features including automatic doors, roll-in showers, audio/visual fire alarm indicators and lowered peep holes. Another distinguishing feature is the use of integrated technologies such as the Kipsu Platform to facilitate seamless communication and support for guests with diverse needs.
DoubleTree by Hilton’s Perth is a 4.5 start hotel on the waterfront in the heart of the Perth CBD next to Elizabeth Quay and the iconic Perth Bell Tower. Amenities include 24-hour access to the fitness centre and and the rooftop bar and pool, where guests can enjoy breathtaking sunsets and views of the Swan River.
2. Santini Bar & Santini Grill – QT, Perth
Best accommodation Hotel Restaurant
Located in the heart of the CBD on the first floor of the QT Hotel, Santini’s has distinguished itself in 2024, winning both the best hotel restaurant and best hotel bar awards. But this comes as no surprise, as both the restaurant and the bar share the rare distinction of being a go-to restaurant for locals as much as hotel guests.
Santini Grill's offers a fine dining experience with an open-concept kitchen displaying smoky wood-fire colas and dangling handmade pasta. Their Italian-style dining experience paired with a menu of bold Mediterranean flavours showcase thoughtfully sourced local and imported produce including local aged Parmesan, custom made burrata and freshly-picked San Marzano tomatoes.
The moody, dim-lit cocktail lounge is located on the same floor just a few metres from the restaurant and is the perfect hide-out for pre-show drinks, late night dinners and intimate date night.The bar has a similar European theme and serves lighter, bar-style food and creative takes on your favourite classic cocktails.
3. Wildflower – COMO The Treasury, Perth
Best Accommodation Hotel Wine List Award
Located on the rooftop in the State Buildings, Wildflower Restaurant is recognised as one of the leading restaurants in Perth and an exceptional wine list is just another reason to visit.
The 20-page wine list includes more than 600 wines. Local West Australian producers are well represented including aged favourites from Margaret River through to the Great Southern. But the real appeal is the wide range of rare vintages from France, Italy and Germany. The pinot noir range is especially impressive, including the 2013 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grands-Echezeaux from Burgundy ($7,900), the 2012 Argiano Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (1500ml) from Tuscany ($995) and the 2016 Domaine Armand Rousseau ‘Clos de Bèze’ Gevrey-Chambertin Grand Cru from Burgundy ($5,500).
COMO The Treasury also curates exceptional wine events, with intimate tastings led by cult producers like Cloudburst Winery and exclusive collaborations with renowned winemakers like Larry Cherubino. Their commitment to delivering memorable experiences for WA’s wine enthusiasts and celebration of the artistry and diversity of Australian wine also contributed to their winning this year’s award.
4. Springs Kitchen Aloft, Perth
Best Contemporary Cuisine Award
Aloft Perth is a stylish, modern hotel with all the mod cons, located in Riverdale just a 10-minute drive from the CBD, a five-minute walk from the river and 20-minute walk to the Crown Casino. It’s also lucky enough to have an award-winning restaurant, recognised for its excellence in blending innovative culinary methods with a steadfast eco-conscious ethos.
Springs Kitchen is located inside the hotel and serves a fusion of modern Australian, Middle Eastern and Asian flavours in a relaxed alfresco-dining setting. Modern techniques like Sous Vide cooking and the woodfired pizza oven enhance flavours and elevate the dining experience.
Sustainability is a central theme of the Kitchen. The in-house herb garden not only guarantees the freshest ingredients but is also designed to minimize its carbon footprint. Other initiatives include a bottle recycling partnership with Scouts WA, biodegradable packaging, and encouraging patrons to bring their own cups for takeaway coffee, reducing single-use waste.
Open from 6 am to late, the kitchen is popular for breakfast and lunch through to evening meals and late-night cocktails.
5. ‘Be. Fremantle', Fremantle
Best Apartment/Suite Accommodation Award
‘Be. Fremantle’ is one of the few places to stay in Fremantle located right on Challenge Harbour, so that every apartment enjoys water-front views of either Fishing Boat Harbour, or across the Royal Perth Yacht Club marina to the Indian Ocean and beyond.
Providing a blend of self-catering and luxury accommodation, accommodation includes spacious and well-appointed studios as well as one, two and three-bedroom apartments equipped with modern furnishings and amenities including sundecks, master ensuites, in-room laundry facilities, and fully equipped kitchens.
Located just a five-minute walk from the main drag in Fremantle, the serviced apartments are popular with leisure and business travellers as well as locals looking for a weekend away.
6. Holiday Inn, West Perth
Best Mid-range Accommodation Award
Renowned for its old-meets-new-architecture, the Holiday Inn in West Perth offers the perfect blend of convenience and comfort, making it popular for business travellers and weekend staycations.
The hotel is a seamless blend of historical charm and modern elegance. The front of the hotel is a heritage-listed character house with a restaurant and private board rooms integrated with the contemporary hotel behind.
Facilities include 101 rooms, a gym, alfresco terrace, two boardroom meeting spaces, dry-cleaning services, luggage storage and bike and e-scooter hire. Downstairs you’ll find local favourite, Julio’s Restaurant and Bar servingclassic Italian cuisine including delicious arancini and hand-made pasta dishes.
Conveniently located in West Perth, in addition to local bars & restaurants, Kings Park and popular entertainment precincts including the Perth CBD, Leederville and Subiaco are all a quick walk or five-minute taxi ride away.
7. Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa, Broome
Best Superior Accommodation Award
Best Regional Accommodation Hotel Award
Cable Beach has for decades been regarded as Broome’s premium resort destination and the recipient of numerous awards, so it is no surprise to be inducted into the AHA Hall of Fame this year.
In addition to being a popular gateway to the Kimberley, for Perth locals, it’s also a popular destination in its own right, providing a luxurious, fully serviced resort experience located on the globally renown Cable Beach.
The resort offers 221 rooms including spacious studios, bungalows, club apartments and luxury suites. Resort facilities include two main swimming pools, three spa and wellness centres, tennis and mini golf. It’s a sprawling resort and so to aid with navigation, conveniently placed horse statues point in the direction of reception.
Beyond the resort, guests can engage in various activities including daily trips to the beach, guided tours, aerial tours, sunset camel rides, fishing trips, and numerous cultural experiences.
8. The Ritz-Carlton, Perth
Best Metro Accommodation Hotel Award
Perched on the banks of Elizabeth Quay, The Ritz-Carlton opened in 2019 with 205 luxury guest rooms and suites adorned with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame stunning views of the Swan River and King’s Park.
The stunning room views and world-class dining reflect the brand’s dedication to delivering high-quality experiences across the globe, with facilities including the river-view infinity pool and the luxury spa, which previously won the prestigious ‘Australia’s Best Hotel Spa’ award.
Guests enjoy a range of dining options including the Hearth Restaurant, which features award-winning seasonal menus showcasing the best local ingredients. Their extensive wine list contains over 210 bottles including a wide variety of wines and vintages from every WA wine region.
The Ritz is within easy walking distance of the CBD and the Elizabeth Quay bus station and train line, making it one of the most convenient locations in the city.
