The winners of the 2016 HM Awards for Accommodation Excellence, presented by Sealy Posturepedic, were named in front of a record 700 attendees last Friday night at Sydney Town Hall. Hosted by television personality Larry Emdur, the HM Awards have, for the 14th time, recognised the accommodation industry's finest staff, properties, brands and chains across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.

“The HM Awards for Hotel and Accommodation Excellence have once again recognised the finest people, departments and properties across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific,” said HM Awards founder and HM Magazine Editor-In-Chief, James Wilkinson.

“This year we had a record number of entries, attendees and winners and the calibre was again nothing short of world class.

“The accommodation industry in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific is performing very well across the board at present and it was again a privilege to acknowledge and reward some brilliant and talented people, exceptional teams and outstanding properties across the region.

“For the past 14 years, the goal of the HM Awards has been to acknowledge the brightest stars in the hotel industry and that's what the event did once more at Sydney Town Hall on September 2,” he said.

On the night, over $30,000 was raised for the Garvan Institute of Medical Research through the Connie Johnson Fellowship in Breast Cancer Research. Once again, the Australasian hotel industry was right behind a major fundraising drive, with funds this year going to help find a cure for a disease that touches an entire nation.

The 2016 HM Awards were Presented by Sealy Posturepedic; Hosted by HM magazine; Co-Hosted by AHS, the Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School and Intrust Super; Sponsored by A List Guide, AHICE, ARMA, Calabria Family Wines, FCS Computer Systems, Nespresso, Prototype, San Pellegrino, Spice magazine and Spice News, and Time Out Australia; and Supported by the Accommodation Association of Australia, Blissful Events, Coopers Premium Beverages, EY, Tourism Accommodation Australia and TravMedia.