2025 Hospitality NT Awards for Excellence

The Northern Territory’s finest hospitality talent has celebrated in style at the 2025 Hospitality NT Awards for Excellence, held at the iconic Darwin Ski Club. Find out all the winners and see the photos here.

Hospitality NT chief executive Cathy Simmonds

The Northern Territory’s finest hospitality talent has celebrated in style at the 2025 Hospitality NT Awards for Excellence, held at the iconic Darwin Ski Club.

More than 500 industry leaders, award nominees, and guests will gather under the stars at the for a night of recognition and entertainment.

The Hilton won: Best Overall Accommodation Hotel; Best Redeveloped Accommodation Hotel; Best Superior Accommodation; Outstanding Accommodation Hotel Community Service and Achievement; and Outstanding Achievement in Training.

This year’s Awards for Excellence saw 290 nominations submitted across all categories — including more than 40 nominations in the highly competitive Employee Awards.

65+ photos: All the faces and fun of the 2025 NT Hospitality Awards

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This year’s Awards for Excellence saw 290 nominations submitted across all categories — including more than 40 nominations in the highly competitive Employee Awards.

Making a huge impact on the hospitality scene this year is Newcomer The Cinema Collective, won gongs for Best Overall Pub/Tavern; Best Pub Gaming; and Best New Venue.

The duelling pianos have proved a hit with Sweethearts @ The Cinema Collective taking home Best Late Night Venue.

Palmerston Golf and Country Club proved the complete package, winning Best Overall Club; Best Club Bar Presentation and Service; and Best TAB Licensed Venue.

Dundee Beach Tavern won Best Overall Regional Pub as well as the Best Draught Beer Quality – Regional, while Alice Springs’ Gillen Club secured Best Overall Regional Club and Best Family Friendly Venue.

Palmerston Golf and Country Club

Employee Awards:

• Apprentice/Trainee of the Year – Amelia Love, Berry Springs Tavern

• Marketing/Sales/Events Employee of the Year – Felicity Lolias, Mindil Beach Casino Resort

• Service Excellence – Front of House – Todd Clarke, Hilton Garden Inn

• Hospitality Industry Rising Star Award, Joe Lynch, Novotel, Mercure & Ibis Darwin Airport.

Hospitality NT’s Chief Executive Officer, Cathy Simmonds praised the Territory’s thriving hospitality scene.

‘The Awards for Excellence are about honouring what makes our industry extraordinary – the venues, the teams, and the individuals working to make someone else’s day better,” Ms Simmonds said.

“From our beloved outback pubs and iconic roadhouses to our vibrant CBD bars, community clubs and world-class resorts — every venue in our industry plays a crucial role in shaping the Northern Territory’s unique hospitality story and lifestyle and that’s what we celebrated.”

Winners, with eligible categories are now in the running for the National AHA Awards for Excellence to be held in November in Brisbane.

Dundee Beach Tavern

FULL LIST OF WINNERS:

Outstanding Club Community Service &

Achievement

Cazalys Palmerston Club

Outstanding Accommodation Hotel

Community Service & Achievement Hilton Darwin

Outstanding Pub/Tavern Community Service & Achievement Noonamah Tavern

Best Tourism Initiative Berry Springs Tavern

Service Excellence Front of House Todd Clarke - Hilton Garden Inn

Best Marketing/Sales/Events Employee Felicity Lolias – Mindil Beach Casino Resort

Apprentice/Trainee of the Year Amelia Love – Berry Springs Tavern

Hospitality Industry Rising Star Award Joe Lynch – Novotel, Mercure & Ibis Darwin Airport

Sales Representative of the Year - Beverage Jason Freeman - LION

Sales Representative of the Year – Industry Gerard Sheldon – NT Keno

Outstanding Achievement in Training Hilton Hotels

Best Pub Gaming Venue The Cinema Collective

Best Club Gaming Venue Cazalys Palmerston Club

Best TAB Licensed Venue Palmerston Golf and Country Club

Best NT Keno Venue Walkabout Tavern

Best Draught Beer Quality – Regional Dundee Beach Tavern

Best Draught Beer Quality – Metro Tap on Mitchell

Best Public Bar Presentation & Service Dundee Beach Tavern

Best Club Bar Presentation & Service Palmerston Golf & Country Club

Best All Abilities Venue Rydges Palmerston

Best Pub Style Accommodation Litchfield Outback Resort

Best Mid Range Accommodation Hilton Garden Inn

Best Superior Accommodation Hilton Darwin

Best Late Night Venue Sweethearts @ The Cinema Collective

Best Outdoor Area Novotel, Mercure & Ibis Darwin Airport

Best Live Music Venue Landmark @ Gateway

Best Family Friendly Venue Gillen Club

Best Sporting Entertainment Venue Silks Darwin

Best Redeveloped Accommodation Hotel Hilton Darwin

Best Marketed Pub Monsoons

Best Marketed Club Darwin Ski Club

Best Marketed Accommodation Hotel Novotel, Mercure & Ibis Darwin Airport

Best Retail Liquor Outlet Katherine Hotel

Best New Venue The Cinema Collective

Best Local Producer Alice Springs Brewing Co

Best Small Bar Dock One Bar

Best Wayside Inn/Outback Pub Corroboree Park Tavern

Best Overall Accommodation Hotel Hilton Darwin

Best Overall Regional Club Gillen Club

Best Overall Regional Pub/Tavern Dundee Beach Tavern

Best Overall Club Palmerston Golf & Country Club

Best Overall Pub/Tavern The Cinema Collective

Originally published as 2025 Hospitality NT Awards for Excellence