Adam Daff and James Wilkinson from HM magazine present the Hotelier of the Year Award to Rachel Argaman of Toga Hospitality

The Emporium Hotel, Brisbane, team celebrate winning Boutique Hotel of the Year

Harley Moraitis, Crown Towers, receives the 5-star hotel of the Year Award from Paul Yardley

Annie Lyons, Travmedia.com, presents the PR Award to Peter Hook from Accor

A record 520 guests witnessed the presentation of some forty plus Hotel and Accommodation Management (HM) Awards in Sydney last week.

Hosted by HM magazine, the eighth annual HM Awards "were a magnificent showcase of the best the industry has to offer," HM magazine Managing Editor James Wilkinson said.

"We have some of the most amazing staff and hotels the world has to offer and it has once more been a privilege to recognise excellence across the entire accommodation industry here in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific."

This year's awards saw over 1,300 entries, with Toga Hospitality chief executive Rachel Argaman bagging "the most prestigious award on the night", the 2010 HM Magazine Hotelier of the Year.

Newcomer Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa won five awards, including Environmental Program, Best New Hotel, Regional Property, Unique Accommodation and Hotel Chef.

A complete list of winners can be found below.

2010 HM AWARDS WINNERS

PROPERTY AWARDS: AUSTRALIA
1. Serviced Apartment Property: Quay Grand Suites Sydney
2. Accommodation under 3.5 stars: Thredbo Alpine Hotel
3. Accommodation 4- to 4.5-stars: The Byron at Byron Resort and Spa
4. Accommodation 5 star: Crown Towers Melbourne
5. Business Hotel: Sheraton Perth
6. Resort: qualia
7. Hotel Refurbishment: Grand Hyatt Melbourne
8. Boutique Hotel: Emporium Hotel, Brisbane
9. Unique Accommodation: Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa
10. Best New Hotel: Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa
11. Alpine Accommodation: Quay West Resort & Spa Falls Creek
12. Meetings & Conference Property: Quay West Resort & Spa Bunker Bay
13. Regional Property: Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa
14. Hotel Day Spa: Angsana Spa, Angsana Resort & Spa Great Barrier Reef
15. Hotel Bar: Zeta Bar, Hilton Sydney
16. Hotel Restaurant: Bilson's, Radisson Plaza Sydney
17. Hi-Tech Hotel: Hilton Sydney

PROPERTY AWARDS - NEW ZEALAND, FIJI & SOUTH PACIFIC
18. New Zealand Hotel: Sofitel Queenstown Hotel & Spa
19. New Zealand Regional Property: Peppers Clearwater Resort
20. New Zealand Lodge: The Farm at Cape Kidnappers
21. Fijian Property: Likuliku Lagoon Resort
22. South Pacific Property: InterContinental Bora Bora Resort and Thalasso Spa

PROPERTY AWARDS - ALL COUNTRIES
23. Hotel Brand Management Company: Preferred Hotel Group
24. Marketing Campaign: Holiday Inn hotels (Australasia)
25. Service to the Community: Accor Hospitality (Australia)

PEOPLE AWARDS
26. Concierge: Ben Davies, The Langham, Melbourne
27. Hotel Chef: Dwane Goodman, Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa
28. Hotel Bartender: Stuart Reeves, harbourbar, Park Hyatt Sydney
29. Human Resources department member: Nicole Downs, The Sebel Surry Hills
30. Sales & Marketing department member: Rupert Hallam, Hilton Melbourne South Wharf
31. Public Relations department member: Peter Hook, Accor Hospitality
32. Front Office department member: Sofie Di Donato, Diamant Hotel Sydney
33. Housekeeper: Tony Smith, Mantra 2 Bond Street
34. Hotel Engineer: Alan Wallbanks, Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach

MAJOR AWARDS
35. South Pacific General Manager: Michael Shah, Pacific Resort Aitutaki
36. New Zealand General Manager: Lynne McVicar, Hotel St Moritz
37. Australian General Manager: Craig Bond, The Sebel & Citigate Albert Park Melbourne
38. Environmental Program: Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa
39. Hotel Brand: Sofitel Luxury Hotels
40. Accommodation Chain: InterContinental Hotels Group
41. Hotel of the Year: The Observatory Hotel, Sydney
42. HM Magazine Hotelier of the Year: Rachel Argaman, Toga Hospitality