Barton’s Hotel Realm repeated its 2012 win of the events award and added the best marketed hotel honour at the Australian Hotels Association’s excellence awards on Wednesday night.

The venue had the added privilege of hosting the national event, held in Canberra for the first time, with more than 450 hotel industry leaders, supporters and guests able to judge the site for themselves.

The five-star home away from home wasn’t the city’s only success, with Kingston’s East Hotel taking out the prize for best suite/apartment hotel, and the Sage Dining Rooms at Braddon’s Gorman House Arts Centre winning the best stand-alone restaurant gong.

Dixie Addison-Rolfe from the Diamant Hotel on Edinburgh Avenue was decorated as the front of house employee of the year.

The hotels association’s ACT general manager Brad Watts congratulated the local national award winners.

“A memorable night for the home-town venues and employees with five winners coming from Canberra – which is more than double the amount compared with last year’s awards,” Mr Watts said.

“The success of these hotels and venues is a tribute to the outstanding quality, services, amenities and food and beverages available.”

Mr Watts said the recognition was welcome after Canberra’s accommodation hotel and hospitality industry had been hurting from the prolonged economic downturn in the lead-up to the Federal election delay.

“The coveted National Awards have certainly put a well-deserved smile on the faces of many AHA ACT members,” Mr Watts said.