Terrigal Beach House took out the sought-after People’s Choice award at the recent Australian Hotels Association NSW Awards for Excellence.
Other Central Coast winners were The Entrance Social Club which took out the Best Draught Beer Quality category, and Terrigal Hotel which won the Best Outdoor Experience category.
Winners of the awards were announced at Royal Randwick Racecourse on October 29 in front of a crowd of about 1,350 industry, political and business leaders.
Popular Central Coast hoteliers Peter and Jane Harris and Gary and Kerry Narvo received a standing ovation when they were inducted into the Australian Hotels Association (AHA) NSW Hall of Fame and received the Cyril Maloney Medal.
It was the first time in AHA NSW history that two married couples were inducted.
AHA NSW CEO John Whelan said running a good pub was a never truly a one-man show.
“We are at heart a family industry,” he said.
“Our modern success was built by hardworking mums and dads – and often their kids – who have lived in, and run pubs across NSW for more than 200 years.
“Some of these families have grown into large companies – with multiple venues run by multiple generations.
“But the foundation are couples like today’s inductees – people who managed to live and work side by side, day after day – and somehow manage to hold it all together.”
Peter and Jane Harris met in 1976 and owned hotels in Whitton, Grenfell and Rutherford before buying the Hotel Gosford in 1998.
“After years of good management and a $13M renovation it is now considered the jewel in the crown of Gosford,” Whelan said.
Gary and Kerry Narvo started their hotel journey with the Lake Jindabyne Hotel in 2000.
When The Bayview Hotel at Woy Woy went up for sale the four inductees joined forces, bought the hotel and turned it around.
“The group expanded – taking in The Jesmond Hotel in Newcastle, The Lakes Hotel at The Entrance and Banjo Patterson Inn at Jindabyne,” Whelan said.
As they move to retirement, the two couples still travel together on many AHA NSW trips.
More than 950 nominations were received for awards across 48 categories and AHA NSW CEO John Whelan said the winners represented the best and brightest in the NSW hotel industry.
“These hotels range from mum and dad operations in the most remote parts of the state to multi-level entertainment precincts in our nation’s greatest city,” he said.
“These hotels provide tens of thousands of jobs, raise millions of dollars for charity each and every year and drive the NSW tourism and hospitality economy.
“I would like to congratulate all award winners.”
A full list of winners for this year’s AHA NSW Awards for Excellence can be found at www.ahaawardsnsw.com.au