The Gerald Hotel named top regional accommodation

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, good news from the hospitality industry has been sparse.

However, The Gerald Hotel has reason to celebrate, being named best regional accommodation in the Australian Hotels Association’s WA Accommodation Awards for Excellence.

Nominees are judged on criteria including the professionalism of staff, ambience and presentation of their venues, as well as overall popularity.

The Gerald was one of only two regional award winners this year and was also a finalist for three other awards for the Old Man and The Sea rooftop bar, housekeeper Sheryll Giba, and executive manager Gemma Clark.

“We thought we were definitely up there in the running and we put a lot of effort in,” Mrs Clark said

The Gerald, which opened in 2018, won best regional accommodation in its opening year, but fell just short at the last awards in 2019. Mrs Clark said in that time, the hotel had put a focus on corporate visitors.

While COVID restrictions caused problems for hospitality venues across the State, the initial shutdown enabled The Gerald to carry out maintenance and refurbishments. It has recently experienced an increase in visitors, which Mrs Clark attributed to the State Government’s Wander Out Yonder campaign.

“It’s really hard to say this on the public record...but to be honest I think it’s been a positive experience for The Gerald,” she said.

“It has been really hard with staffing, but we have some amazing staff on our team and it just shows. An award like this really recognises all their efforts.”

Premier Mark McGowan made an appearance at the awards night to recognise WA’s quarantine hotels.

“I’d like to thank our quarantine hotels and in particular the hotel workers who have done a tough job in unusual circumstances to help keep Western Australians safe,” he said.