Tasmanian Hospitality Review - December / January 2023

The Cove’s success at the AHA Awards for Excellence was part of an incredible evening for Tasmania, with five businesses landing recognition. This equalled the most for a single year of the awards and followed the four awards won earlier in February when Hobart hosted the 2021 event which had been delayed due to Covid. Devonport Cellarbrations joined The Cove as the pride of the North West by taking out the Best Retail Liquor Outlet, while French-inspired Furneaux Restaurant flew the flag for the far North East by being crowned Best Regional Restaurant. The state’s growing reputation for providing some of the most luxurious offerings in the country was then further confirmed with Saffire Freycinet named Best Luxury Accommodation and The Tasman taking home Overall Hotel of the Year – Accommodation Division. “The [AHA] award, we never expected it. We haven’t expected to win any of them to be quite honest,” Kim says. “When you’re recognised for what you have created, that’s pretty special. I can remember exactly how I felt. I cried. I cried because I was so shocked, it was like having my first baby, I just couldn’t believe it because of the competition we were up against. It’s still sinking in I think, that this is a pretty special place and obviously other people think it is as well.”

F or another of Tasmania’s newest kids on the block in The Tasman, a national award was just as sweet. Having opened just prior to Christmas in 2022 the hotel, which has brought Marriott’s Luxury Collection brand to Australia for the very first time, has seen success roll through the front doors thick and fast. Earlier in the year The Tasman made two global magazine hot lists – Travel + Leisure’s coveted ‘It List’ and Conde Nast Traveler’s ‘Hot List’ and for general manager Stephen Morahan, the AHA Award is on equal footing.

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