Business Events Victoria congratulates our members who were recognised at the 2026 Victorian Accommodation Awards for Excellence, held on Thursday 20 August. The awards celebrate outstanding achievements across Victoria’s accommodation and hospitality sector, recognising the venues and individuals who continue to deliver exceptional guest experiences.
For meeting and event planners, these awards reinforce the quality, professionalism and innovation available across regional Victoria. From award-winning conference facilities and accommodation to exceptional dining experiences and outstanding customer service, our members continue to set the benchmark for business events.
Award Winners
A special congratulations to the following Business Events Victoria members who took home awards:
- Jackalope Hotels – Winner, Boutique Style Accommodation of the Year (Merricks North), Joint Winner, Best Meeting and Events Space of the Year (Merricks North)
- Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong by IHG – Winner, Regional Accommodation of the Year (Geelong)
- RACV Torquay Resort – Winner, Resort Style Accommodation of the Year (Torquay)
- Bayside Geelong Hotel & Apartments – Winner, Inclusion and Accessibility Hotel Award (Geelong)
- RACV Healesville Country Club & Resort – Winner, The Heart of the Community (Healesville)
- RACV Goldfields Resort – Joint Winner, Best Meeting and Events Space of the Year (Creswick)
- La Vetta, Marnong Estate – Winner, Premium Hotel Restaurant of the Year (Mickleham)
- Samphire, RACV Cape Schanck Resort – Joint Winner, Hotel Restaurant of the Year (Cape Schanck)
- Novotel Geelong – Winner (Tempo Kitchen & Bar), Regional Hotel Restaurant of the Year (Geelong), Winner (Jake Shelberg), Food and Beverage Services Employee of the Year
Congratulations to the Finalists
We also congratulate the many Business Events Victoria members recognised as finalists across a wide range of categories.
Bayside Geelong Hotel & Apartments
- Regional Accommodation of the Year
- Best Sustainability Initiative
- Franca’s Restaurant – Regional Hotel Restaurant of the Year
- Resort Style Accommodation of the Year
- 1309 Restaurant – Hotel Restaurant of the Year
- Regional Accommodation of the Year
- Skyline Bar – Hotel Bar of the Year
- Sociali Trattoria & Bar – Regional Hotel Restaurant of the Year
Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong by IHG
- Adam Brauer – Engineer & Maintenance Employee of the Year
- Michael Huang – Executive of the Year
- Shayan Banna – Front Office Services Employee of the Year
- Pragnesh Pandy – Housekeeper Employee of the Year
- Doot Doot Doot – Premium Hotel Restaurant of the Year
- Flaggerdoot – Hotel Bar of the Year
- Regional Accommodation of the Year
- Regional Accommodation of the Year
- Best Meeting and Events Space of the Year
- The Larder Restaurant – Regional Hotel Restaurant of the Year
- Boutique Style Accommodation of the Year
- Best Meeting and Events Space of the Year
- Boutique Style Accommodation of the Year
- Nick Kelly – Engineer & Maintenance Employee of the Year
- The Muse – Regional Hotel Restaurant of the Year
- Joanna Quiamco – Chef of the Year
- Chloe Burgess – Hotel Industry Rising Star
- Pavan Chandragiri – Housekeeper Employee of the Year
- Regional Accommodation of the Year
- Sailesh Vala – Chef of the Year
- Bronwyn Robbins – Executive of the Year
- The Heart of the Community
- Resort Style Accommodation of the Year
- Best Sustainability Initiative
- The Heart of the Community
- Best Meeting and Events Space of the Year
- Cape – Premium Hotel Restaurant of the Year
- One Spa – Hotel Spa of the Year
- Resort Style Accommodation of the Year
- Wendy Ting Lee – Hotel Industry Rising Star
- Three Founders Restaurant – Regional Hotel Restaurant of the Year
RACV Healesville Country Club & Resort
- Resort Style Accommodation of the Year
- Mark Thwaites – Engineer & Maintenance Employee of the Year
- Best Meeting and Events Space of the Year
- Banyalla – Hotel Restaurant of the Year
- One Spa – Hotel Spa of the Year
- Best Sustainability Initiative
- Number One Restaurant – Regional Hotel Restaurant of the Year
- Resort Style Accommodation of the Year
These outstanding results highlight the depth and diversity of regional Victoria’s business events offering. Whether you’re planning a conference, executive retreat, incentive program or corporate meeting, these award-winning and finalist venues demonstrate the exceptional accommodation, meeting facilities, dining experiences and service standards available across the state.
Congratulations again to all of our members recognised at this year’s Victorian Accommodation Awards for Excellence. We look forward to seeing these outstanding venues continue to deliver memorable business events in regional Victoria.
