Mid West and Gascoyne venues shortlisted as finalists in the AHA-Aon Hospitality Awards for Excellence

A host of Mid West and Gascoyne venues have been named finalists in the 2022 WA Hospitality Awards for Excellence, representing the “very best” of the State’s restaurants, pubs, taverns and function centres.

From Geraldton to Kalbarri, Exmouth to Cervantes, local venues are among those shortlisted from a record number of nominations in the Australian Hotels Association-Aon awards.

Finlay’s Kalbarri and Finlay’s Brewing Co nabbed eight honours, named finalists in the following categories — community service award, tourism initiative award, outdoor area award, boutique brewery award, family dining award, live entertainment venue award, cookery services employee award (Chamath Mendis) and venue manager award (Daniel A Nielsen).

In Geraldton, the Freemasons Hotel was named finalists for the social media activity award, live entertainment venue award and casual pub dining award (regional).

The Gerald Apartment Hotel’s Batavia Coast Conference Centre is vying against other venues including Optus Stadium, the Ritz-Carlton and Perth’s State Buildings in the conference and functions award, while its rooftop bar, Old Man and the Sea, is a finalist in the contemporary bar menu award.

Exmouth’s Froth Craft Brewery was shortlisted in five categories (community service award, outdoor area award, casual pub dining award regional, family dining award and live entertainment venue award) and Whalebone Brewing Company in three categories (live entertainment venue award, outdoor area award and family dining award). Cervantes’ Lobster Shack is up for the family dining award.

AHA (WA) CEO Bradley Woods said the strong field of contenders indicated the community’s strong reliance on the hospitality industry, which was recovering strongly after navigating COVID-19.

The finalists represented the “very best of WA’s extraordinary hospitality industry”, he said.

“As we pivot out of the pandemic, WA’s hospitality industry is firmly focused on a more positive future ... the awards are a way of celebrating the very best of WA’s hospitality venues and the staff who drive their success, which after almost three years of turmoil, is more important than ever,” Mr Woods said.

Almost 1000 nominations were received more than 40 categories.

Winners will be announced on Monday, November 7, at Crown Perth.