Sydney, 27 November, 2023: Marriott International Inc. was proud to be awarded 11 wins and 12 Highly Commended awards of the 52 categories awarded at the highly competitive HM Awards on Friday 24 November 2023 - honouring the best of the best in the hospitality industry across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. 

Marriott took home major awards including Hotel Brand of the Year for luxury lifestyle brand W Hotels, which has amassed a cult following globally and opened its third outpost within Australia with the opening of W Sydney in October.

Among the major accolades, Sean Hunt, Area Vice President - Australia, New Zealand and Pacific was awarded HM Magazine Australasian Hotelier of the Year for his outstanding leadership of the portfolio and associates within the region. Anthony Capuano, President and CEO of Marriott International was highly commended in the Global Hotelier of the Year category whilst Rajeev Menon, President, Asia Pacific Excluding China also came highly commended in the HM Magazine Asia-Pacific Hotelier of the Year category.

Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott's award winning travel and loyalty program of almost 200 members globally, cemented its reputation for connecting travellers to incredible experiences through partnerships with some of Australia's most well loved events. Marriott Bonvoy's 2023 partnership with the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix was the joint winner of the Innovative Collaboration category, whilst Marriott Bonvoy's partnership with Tennis Australia for the Summer of Tennis Campaign was highly commended in the Marketing Campaign category.

The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne, which opened its doors in March this year, brought in a string of accolades including the prestigious winner of best New Hotel, and joint winner of the Luxury Hotel. The hotel also came highly commended in the Australasian Hotel category, whilst hotel bar Cameo was highly commended in the Hotel Bar category and The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Melbourne came highly commended in the Hotel Spa category.

Another recent opening, Moxy Sydney Airport Hotel, which opened its doors in August and marked the brand introduction to Australia, came highly commended in both the Midscale Hotel and the Hotel Interior Design categories.

Marriott's resort properties were also in the spotlight with JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort and Spa taking home joint winner in the Resort category whilst Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Port Douglas took home winner in  the Regional Property category and highly commended in Resort category.  Sheraton Fiji Golf and Beach Resort also placed as joint winner in the Fijian Resort category.

In the culinary space, Peppina, The Tasman, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Hobart was named joint winner in the Hotel Restaurant category for its exceptional take on trattoria-style hospitality emphasising local ingredients.

Marriott's incredible team of associates were highly celebrated in the People Awards. Alessandro Pizzolato, The Westin Brisbane took home Hotel Chef of the Year. Deb McDiarmid, Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort Port Douglas won the Marketing and Communications Associate award whilst Ravesi Konrote, Marriott International Fiji Hotels  came highly commended. Anton Van Den Brink, Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park was highly commended in the Hotel Engineer category whilst Ravineel Kumar, Sheraton Fiji Golf and Beach Resort, Sheraton Denarau Villas and Sheraton Resort & Spa, Tokoriki Island, Fiji came highly commended in the Human Resources Associate in NZ and Pacific category.

The successful achievements mark the conclusion of a stellar year for the hotel company, which has expanded its footprint to 4 operating Hotels and Resorts in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, opening four incredible new properties in 2023.

“We're delighted to be establishing a foothold as a leading operator in the region's accommodation sector. Our family of strong global brands, our pipeline of hotels to come, and our powerful loyalty programme Marriott Bonvoy, make us a strong choice for hotel owners and hospitality associates to want to be a part of our company. The recognition received from HM Magazine is a testament to this”, said Sean Hunt, Area Vice President - Australia, New Zealand and Pacific, Marriott International - who also won the award for HM Magazine Australasian hotelier of the year.

List of Marriott International awards:

Winner:

1. W Hotels - Hotel Brand
2. ​​Sean Hunt, Marriott International - HM Magazine Australasian Hotelier of the Year 
3. Marriott Bonvoy x Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix - Innovative Collaboration
4. The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne - Luxury Hotel
5. The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne - New Hotel
6. Sheraton Fiji Golf and Beach Resort - Fijian Property
7. JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort and Spa - Resort
8. Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Port Douglas - Regional Property
9. Peppina, The Tasman, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Hobart  - Hotel Restaurant
10. Alessandro Pizzolato, The Westin Brisbane - Hotel Chef
11. Deb McDiarmid, Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort Port Douglas - Marketing and Communications Associate

Highly Commended:

1. Rajeev Menon, Marriott International - HM Magazine Asia-Pacific Hotelier of the Year
2. Anthony Capuano, Marriott International - HM Magazine Global Hotelier of the Year
3. Ravesi Konrote, Marriott International Fiji Hotels - Marketing and Communications Associate
4. Anton Van Den Brink, Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park - Hotel Engineer
5. Ravineel Kumar, Sheraton Fiji Golf and Beach Resort, Sheraton Denarau Villas and Sheraton Resort & Spa, Tokoriki Island, Fiji - Human Resources Associate NZ/SP
6. Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Port Douglas - Resort
7. Moxy Sydney Airport Hotel - Midscale Hotel
8. Moxy Sydney Airport Hotel - Hotel Interior Design
9. The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne - Australasian Hotel
10. The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Melbourne - Hotel Spa
11. Cameo, The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne - Hotel Bar
12. Marriott Bonvoy Summer of Tennis Campaign - Marketing Campaign

ENDS

Media Contact

The MINT Partners

marriott@themintpartners.com.au

About Marriott International

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of nearly 8,700 properties across more than 30 leading brands in 139 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy®, its highly awarded travel program.  For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com.  In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on X and Instagram.