Two Australian hotels within Choice Hotels’ Ascend Collection have been recognised at the prestigious International Best of Choice Awards, with Ingot Hotel Perth, an Ascend Collection Hotel, named a Best of Choice winner, and Bayside Geelong Hotel & Apartments, an Ascend Collection Hotel, receiving the Upscale Award for Commitment to Green.
The Best of Choice Awards recognise hotels that deliver exceptional guest satisfaction and consistently high service standards, with remarkable likelihood-to-recommend scores. Presented by Choice Hotels International, one of the world’s largest accommodation franchisors with more than 7,500 properties across 51 countries and territories, the awards celebrate top-performing hotels across its global portfolio. This year’s winners were announced at a gala event in Las Vegas on 6 May 2026.
“We’re proud to see two Australian Ascend Collection hotels recognised on the global stage,” said Choice Hotels Asia-Pac CEO Trent Fraser. “Being named a Best of Choice winner, one of Choice Hotels International’s highest honours, reflects a consistent commitment to exceptional guest experiences, strong service standards, and operational excellence. Ingot Hotel Perth exemplifies this, delivering quality service and professionalism at every touchpoint.
We’re also delighted to see Bayside Geelong Hotel & Apartments recognised with the Upscale Award for Commitment to Green, highlighting their ongoing investment in sustainability and responsible operations. These achievements reflect the growing importance of environmental leadership in hospitality, and the role hotels can play in delivering outstanding stays while making a positive impact.”
Advertisements
Ingot Hotel Perth General Manager Paul Rogers said the whole team feels immensely proud to be recognised as ‘the best of the best’. “It’s an honour to be recognised, for what is now the third time as the International Ascend Hotel of the Year, by both our guests and the global industry for our efforts to ensure every guest feels valued, comfortable, and well catered for. We hold ourselves to the highest standards of cleanliness and attention to detail to create a memorable stay, whether for a short overnight work trip or an extended family holiday in Perth.”
In Victoria, Bayside Geelong Hotel & Apartments, was recognised for its strong commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible hotel operations.
As the 4.5-star boutique property continues its major, multi‑stage redevelopment, sustainability has been embedded into the hotel’s transformation from the outset. “From the beginning, we’ve taken a long‑term view, considering how the hotel can operate more efficiently, responsibly and sustainably, both now and into the future. And to have these efforts recognised at a global level is incredibly rewarding, and speaks to the commitment of our team, who have fully embraced this vision and helped bring it to life,” said General Manager Kevin Robe.
Sustainability is embedded throughout the hotel, from energy-efficient design features like solar power, smart lighting and high-performance insulation, to EV charging and low-impact operations. These principles also shape Franca’s, where ingredient sourcing, menu design and waste reduction, including composting, are carefully considered.
Together, these awards showcase the strength and diversity of the Ascend Collection in Australia, recognising not only exceptional guest experiences but also meaningful environmental leadership at a global standard.
Guest Contributor
2026-05-20 00:36:00