INDUSTRY FEATURE: AHA National Awards for Excellence
TASMANIA has celebrated hosting the AHA National Awards for Excellence in spectacular fashion, claiming four titles to enhance the reputation of the state’s hospitality industry. There was something about Stanley that continued to draw Kerry and Alastair Houston back to the north west coast. The couple, originally from Hobart, would often take their two daughters Bonnie and Lucy on holidays to the region but when the opportunity arose to purchase the Ship Inn, it was the opening they needed to relocate permanently. Hospitality wasn’t the duo’s background – Alastair was a stonemason and landscaper while Kerry was in human resources – but they took plunge into renovating the run-down building with breathtaking views of the Nut as the backdrop in 2018. It is a moved which has been worth all the blood, sweat and tears, with theShip InnStanley crowned Best Superior Accommodation alongside the Northern Territory’s Sails in the Desert, Ayers Rock Resort at the AHA National Awards for Excellence hosted in Hobart.
“To be up against such amazing competition and to win something was incredible,” Kerry says. “We bought the Ship Inn three years ago and it was a cheap and cheerful little guest house, so we spent a good two years renovating and we’ve only just finished the gardens. “There’s almost an acre of gardens we’ve got there and we renovated from one end to the other and completely restyled, we managed to buy the old billiard hall next door as well and that’s the guest lounge. “We’ve had a fantastic team of tradesmen in circular head who helped us, I think we paid for their retirement and we’ve got a beautiful team of staff, so it’s been a wonderful journey. “I think we offer an experience that’s very authentic to the region. People really feel they’re in a little fishing village on the northwest coast when they come and stay with us.” The Ship Inn was one of four Tasmanian venues whopickedupanational award,withLaunceston’s Cataract on Paterson taking out the Outstanding Achievement in Training category and Federal Group landing the state’s two other awards.
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