WA's Best Hotels Revealed! 🏆 The Westin & Hilton Garden Inn Busselton Win Big at AHA Awards (2026)

The Unseen Battle for Hospitality Excellence: What WA’s Hotel Awards Reveal About the Future of Travel

Every year, the AHA Accommodation Awards for Excellence in Western Australia (WA) feel like a glamorous coronation—a night where the hospitality industry pats itself on the back. But this year’s event, held at The Westin Perth, struck me as more than just a celebration of luxury. It’s a window into a fiercely competitive industry that’s quietly redefining what travelers expect.

The Winners: Beyond the Glitter

The Westin and Hilton Garden Inn Busselton took top honors, beating out heavyweights like Crown Perth and The Ritz-Carlton. Personally, I think this says less about the losers and more about the shifting priorities of travelers. The Westin’s win in the metro category isn’t just about its plush rooms; it’s about its ability to blend corporate efficiency with a human touch—something business travelers increasingly demand. Meanwhile, the Hilton Garden Inn’s regional victory highlights a growing trend: regional hotels are no longer afterthoughts. They’re becoming destinations in their own right, offering experiences that rival city centers.

What makes this particularly fascinating is how these wins challenge the notion that luxury is solely about opulence. Both hotels excel in what I call ‘quiet excellence’—seamless service, thoughtful design, and a focus on sustainability. It’s a reminder that in an age of Instagrammable hotels, substance still trumps style.

The Hall of Fame Inductee: A Symbol of Resilience

Nathan Frost’s induction into the Accommodation Industry Hall of Fame is more than a career milestone. It’s a testament to the resilience of WA’s hospitality sector. Frost’s work with Accor during the pandemic—a time when hotels were ghost towns—speaks volumes about adaptability. In my opinion, this recognition isn’t just about Frost; it’s about the thousands of unsung heroes who kept the industry afloat during its darkest hours.

The Numbers Don’t Lie—But They Don’t Tell the Whole Story

AHA WA chief executive Bradley Woods pointed out that Perth hotels are outperforming national occupancy rates, and visitor numbers are at record highs. On the surface, this is great news. But if you take a step back and think about it, these numbers raise a deeper question: Is this growth sustainable? WA’s tourism boom is partly fueled by its isolation from global crises, but it’s also a result of aggressive marketing and infrastructure investment. What happens when the world stabilizes? Will WA still be a top destination, or is this a temporary spike?

The Awards’ Hidden Narrative: Innovation Over Tradition

One thing that immediately stands out is the emphasis on innovation. Crown Towers Perth’s management team award and The Ritz-Carlton’s bar win aren’t just about doing things well—they’re about doing things differently. Crown’s team has been praised for its data-driven approach to guest experience, while The Ritz-Carlton’s Songbird bar has redefined what a hotel bar can be. What this really suggests is that the industry is moving away from cookie-cutter experiences toward personalized, tech-driven hospitality.

A detail that I find especially interesting is Wildflower’s third consecutive win for best wine list. In a region known for its wine, this isn’t just about having a great selection—it’s about curating an experience that tells a story. What many people don’t realize is that a well-crafted wine list can be a hotel’s secret weapon, turning a meal into a memory.

The Broader Implications: WA as a Microcosm of Global Trends

WA’s hospitality sector is thriving, but it’s not happening in a vacuum. The trends we see here—regional resurgence, sustainability, and tech-driven personalization—are global. From my perspective, WA is a testing ground for what the future of travel might look like. If these hotels can maintain their edge while staying true to their roots, they could set a new standard for the industry.

Final Thoughts: The Human Element in a High-Tech World

As I reflect on this year’s awards, what strikes me most is the balance between innovation and humanity. Yes, data analytics and sustainability initiatives are crucial, but at the end of the day, hospitality is about people. The hotels that win in the long run will be the ones that remember this.

In my opinion, the real award isn’t a trophy—it’s the loyalty of guests who feel seen, heard, and valued. And that’s something no algorithm can replicate.