The Highway Hotel in Plympton proved the effectiveness of digital and social media marketing when it won the “Best Marketed Hotel” prize in the general division at the Australian Hotels Association (SA)’s awards for excellence.
The Highway, which launched an iPhone app last month, was an early adopter of social media for marketing purposes. The hotel maintains Facebook and Twitter pages, which are updated daily and used to interact with customers, in addition to offering Foursquare specials. The innovative approach officially paid off last night, with the award demonstrating to other hotels the folly of dismissing social media as a mere trend or plaything.
The Highway also won the award for the best metropolitan bottleshop, while the year-old Walkers Arms Hotel won the prize for Best Overall Hotel. The Walkerville venue also took out four other awards, including Best Environmental Practice and Best Outdoor or Non-Enclosed Facility. The Walkers Arms, which is notable for its lack of pokie machines, was rebuilt after burning to the ground in a fire four years ago and has been popular since its reopening in June 2010.
The Norwood Hotel took out Best Entertainment Venue, while Best Restaurant in the general division went to the Stirling Hotel and Barker Hotel in Mt Barker won three awards in the country division.
All winners continue on to the National AHA Awards, to be held in Sydney at the end of the month.
For a full list of winners, see below.
Best Mid-Range Accommodation:
Walkers Arms
Best Deluxe Hotel Accommodation:
Sebel Playford Adelaide
Best Bistro/Casual Dining – Country:
Barker Hotel
Best Bistro/Casual Dining – Metropolitan:
Belair Hotel
Best Restaurant – Accommodation Division:
Sebel Playford Adelaide
Best Restaurant – General Division:
Stirling Hotel
Best Bar Presentation & Service – Country:
Barker Hotel
Best Bar Presentation & Service – Metropolitan:
Cremorne Hotel
Best Retail Outlet – Country:
Sky Tavern, Port Augusta
Best Retail Outlet – Metropolitan:
The Highway
Best Outdoor or Non-enclosed Facility:
Walkers Arms
Best Entertainment Venue:
Norwood Hotel
Best Sporting Entertainment Venue:
Marion Hotel
Best Redeveloped Hotel – Country:
Barker Hotel
Best Redeveloped Hotel – Metropolitan:
Cremorne Hotel – joint winner
Walkers Arms – joint winner
Outstanding Community Service & Achievement:
Port Lincoln Hotel
Best Marketed Hotel – Accommodation Division:
Stamford Grand Adelaide
Best Marketed Hotel – General Division:
The Highway
Best Tourism Initiative:
Port Lincoln Hotel
Best Environmental Practice:
Walkers Arms
Best Gaming Venue – Country:
Taminga Hotel, Clare
Best Gaming Venue – Metropolitan:
Kensington Hotel – joint winner
Mansfield Park Hotel – joint winner
Best Function Operation/Facility – Accommodation Division:
Grand Mercure Mount Lofty House, Crafers
Best Function Operation/Facility – General Division:
Lion Hotel, North Adelaide – joint winner
Stirling Hotel – joint winner
Hotel Industry Rising Star Award:
Robby Lippett, from the Independent Pub Group
Best Overall Hotel:
Walkers Arms
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