Nominations

Guidelines

For PROPERTY and DEPARTMENTAL categories
The name and address has to be completed, minimum 300 words and up to 1,000 words are able to be submitted (outlining major achievements over the last 12 months – from September 7, 2025 to August 30, 2026 – and why it is believed the individual should win the specific category). Optional: a YouTube video link is also able to be submitted with the nomination again this year, with a maximum length of 5 minutes.

Specifically within the PROPERTY and DEPARTMENTAL categories:

• For the NEW HOTEL category: The property must have opened between September 7, 2025 and August 30, 2026, to be considered.
• For the HOTEL BAR category: A current menu of the food and drink offerings (including cocktail lists) must be attached with the nomination.
• For the HOTEL RESTAURANT category: A current menu of the food and drink offerings (including wine and cocktail lists) must be attached with the nomination.
• For the DAY SPA category: A current menu of the treatments on offer must be attached with the nomination.

For PEOPLE categories
The name and address has to be completed, minimum 300 words and up to 1,000 words are able to be submitted (outlining major achievements over the last 12 months – from September 7, 2025 to August 30, 2026 – and it is believed the individual should win the specific category). Optional: a YouTube video link is also able to be submitted with the nomination again this year, with a maximum length of 5 minutes.

For RISING STAR of Year
This award recognises an associate 30 years or under who has achieved significant milestones in the hotel industry. The name and address has to be completed, minimum 300 words and up to 1,000 words are able to be submitted (outlining major achievements over the last 12 months – from September 7, 2025 to August 30, 2026 – and why you believe a rising star should win the specific category). Optional: a YouTube video is also able to be submitted with the nomination this year, with a maximum length of 5 minutes.

For MAJOR awards
The name and address must be completed, minimum 300 words and up to 1,000 words are able to be submitted (outlining major achievements over the last 12 months – from September 7, 2025 to August 30, 2026 – and why it is believed the individual should win the specific category). Optional: a YouTube video link is also able to be submitted with the nomination again this year, with a maximum length of 5 minutes.

For the HOTEL BRAND, CHAIN, HOTEL, AUSTRALASIAN HOTELIER and ASIA-PACIFIC HOTELIER
These are not open for submissions and are decided on by Regional CEOs (as per the judging process since 2007).

For INNOVATIVE COLLABORATION of Year
This award recognises an outstanding collaboration between a property, a brand or a chain with an external partner – for example a technology, airline, F&B, travel company (or other) collaboration. The name and address has to be completed, minimum 300 words and up to 1,000 words are able to be submitted (outlining the collaboration that happened over the last 12 months – from September 7, 2025 to August 30, 2026 – and why you believe you should win the specific category). Optional: a YouTube video is also able to be submitted with the nomination, with a maximum length of 5 minutes.

For the HUMAN RESOURCES INITIATIVE of the Year
This award recognises an outstanding human resources initiative or program within a hotel chain or individual property, recognising excellence in hiring and nurturing talent, training and development, employee wellbeing, diversity and creating stellar career opportunities. The name and address has to be completed, minimum 300 words and up to 1,000 words are able to be submitted (outlining the collaboration that happened over the last 12 months – from September 7, 2025 to August 30, 2026 – and why you believe you should win the specific category). Optional: a YouTube video is also able to be submitted with the nomination, with a maximum length of 5 minutes.

Judging Process

1. Nominations for General Awards are closed categories
2. The judging panel – made up of over 20 leading travel writers, industry consultants, association heads and selected leading suppliers – decides the finalists and subsequently the winners and highly commended recipients.
3. The judging panel will be sent a list of every property nominated in those categories.
4. Written submissions for each category will be taken into consideration and voting will be based on a 3-2-1 points system (3 points for first, 2 points for second and 1 point for third).
5. The judging panel will also be asked to nominate their leading hotels in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific on a 3-2-1 points basis.
6. The judging panel will be asked to leave any category blank where they did not feel they knew enough about the nominations in that category.

Notes

• General, People and selected Major Awards will be judged by HM magazine Editor James Wilkinson and several senior hotel industry consultants. Judging for these categories will be based on the 300-word submission (and optional YouTube video) to accompanied each entry and the decision on the winner and highly commended recipient will need to be unanimous.
• Major Awards – Brand, Chain, Hotel, Australasian Hotelier and Asia-Pacific Hotelier will be decided entirely by a panel of leading CEOs and Managing Directors across Australia, New Zealand and Asia-Pacific. They will be asked to nominate on a 3-2-1 points basis (not including themselves, their staff or properties in their own chain).
• All judges and judging decisions will remain anonymous (the results have been audited by EY [Ernst&Young] previously and now Withers Worldwide since 2008).