Jamala Wildlife Lodge at the National Zoo and Aquarium won the Best Tourism Initiative Award at the national Australian Hotels Association awards on Monday night.
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General manager Kristy Ryan said the team was excited to hear Jamala Wildlife Lodge called out at the awards, which were held at Jupiter's Casino on the Gold Coast.
"It is wonderful for the entire team, across the National Zoo and Aquarium and the Jamala staff, to have their hard work, dedication and passions acknowledge with a national award," she said.
The lodge's owners, Richard and Maureen Tindale, are currently in South Africa and out of range, and Ryan said they had not yet been able to pass the good news on to them.
"I just can't wait for Richard and Maureen to now get the email," she said.
Jamala was up against the National Wine Centre in South Australia and Hotel Rottnest in Western Australia in their category.
It's only the first year in the awards for the accommodation venue which opened in mid-December last year, after "an ambitious dream and a labour of love for 15 years for Richard, Maureen and their family".
The resort has 20 luxury rooms scattered across the zoo each with their own animal encounter and decorated with items handpicked by the Tindales on their annual trips to Africa.
Other ACT hospitality venues Burbury Hotel, East Hotel, QT Canberra, Premier Hotel and Apartments, Hotel Hotel, Crown Plaza Canberra, Hyatt Hotel Canberra, Pialligo Estate, The Dock, Hopscotch, Bentspoke Brewing Co, and the National Convention Centre were also finalists in categories at the awards night.
