The grand lady has taken top honours at the Australian Hotels Association, Victoria (AHA Vic) State Awards for Excellence.
Of all the transformations we’ve witnessed over the past few years, the Portarlington Grand Hotel is hands down one of our favourites.
Built in 1888, the Portarlington Grand Hotel has been sitting pretty on the main street of Portarlington, boasting incredible views of the popular and scenic harbour area. While it had certainly been a while between cocktails at the 132-year-old gem, new operators Franco Biasuzzo and Mark Henderson have transformed the venue over the past two years, bringing the grand lady back to life through an extensive $10M renovation.
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Restoring the prominent main street structure to its original glory, as well as adding additional features like boutique accommodation, unique dining spaces and open-air spaces, modernised to meet the highest standards of luxury, while still enclosed in stunning historical architecture, the Portarlington Grand Hotel has become the shining glory of this region.
Now, just over a year on from officially opening its shiny new doors, the grand lady has achieved recognition of the state’s highest status, taking out not one, but two wins at the recent 2023 Australian Hotels Association, Victoria (AHA Vic) State Awards for Excellence – the pinnacle event of the Victorian hospitality industry.
Alongside local favourites The Torquay Hotel, who were crowned the Best Live Entertainment Venue, the Portarlington Grand Hotel has taking out top honour for Best Hotel Accommodation in Victoria AND the Best Redeveloped Food and Beverage Hotel in Victoria.
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The Best Hotel Accommodation is an approving nod to the grand elegance of the venue’s 18 boutique rooms. With a few different rooms on offer, our personal favourites are the Grand Bay rooms, where you can take in priceless vistas from your own outdoor balcony, behold the views over the sapphire bay, mostly unchanged throughout the hotel’s long history, and breathe in the fresh seaside air, all with a comfortable King size bed and grand size bathroom inside.
The development award is no doubt an acknowledgement of the incredible $10M renovation from the venue, inclusive of the front bar’s stunning new renovations, textured walls, beautiful greens, and elegant yet simple black furniture; the incredibly designed Atrium’s open-air dining and drinks area that is the perfect place to soak up the atmosphere, enjoy a seaside view and socialise; the lawn area and the sensational food and beverage offering.
Recapturing an era when paddle steamers traversed Port Phillip Bay, the historic yet newly refurbished Portarlington Grand Hotel offers a boutique experience with a local welcome for all. If you haven’t had the pleasure of visiting yet, add this award-winning venue to your list – we guarantee you’ll love it!
Congratulations to the whole team at the Portarlington Grand Hotel – so well deserved!
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