PRESIDENT UPDATE
We set ambitious goals when we moved our Awards for Excellence to the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens 12 months ago – to make our industry’s night of nights the best celebration in the country. And judging on the turnout for this year’s awards, I truly believe our format provides the perfect mix of celebrating the achievements of our amazing people, establishments and venues, combined with getting people from right around the state together. This year’s event was our biggest ever, with over 800 attendees! This is clear that the passion and dedication within Tasmania’s hospitality industry continue to grow. The spectacle of this year’s awards not only showcased the very best of our industry but also underscored our commitment to celebrating the hard work and achievements of so many outstanding individuals and businesses.
and been a passionate advocate for our state at national level. Congratulations John on your longevity and it is an honour thoroughly deserved. This year’s Awards were a true testament to the strength of our industry, with the largest attendance we’ve ever had. It’s a reminder of how vital hospitality is not only to Tasmania’s economy but also to the community spirit that defines our state. I’d like to thank my fellow THA board members for giving their time to the industry throughout the year and extend my gratitude to Steve Old and the THA team for pulling off such a grand event, and for continuing to innovate and raise the bar every year. I also want to congratulate all our category winners. From long-established venues to new faces, it was inspiring to see such a diverse range of talent being recognised. As we look ahead, I want to wish all our state winners representing us at the AHA National Awards for Excellence in Brisbane good luck, Tasmania has a proud history of success on the national stage, and I’m confident that this year will be no different as our venues compete for top honours. Thank you all for making this year’s event such a huge success, and I look forward to seeing our industry continue to thrive.
A special highlight of the night was the induction of our 16th life member, John Dabner. John has made a profound contribution to not just the North West Coast for more than three decades, but right across Tasmania’s hospitality landscape. His leadership, innovation, and dedication have left an indelible mark on not just the industry, but also within the THA walls. John has been a board member and accommodation division president since 1994, has been a national accommodation division president and representative
5 Tasmanian Hospitality Review Oct/Nov Edition
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