Five years after buying the faded beauty, the Fairmont Resort at Leura, Sydney hotelier Jerry Schwartz is celebrating a swag of tourism award wins.
Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains won the Regional Superior Hotel of the Year category in a gala ceremony at the 2016 Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA) NSW Awards for Excellence announced last Thursday night at the Four Points by Sheraton in Sydney.
The hotel is one of a dozen owned by Mr Schwartz. He worked hard to turn around what was once one of the state's grandest hotels but was run down by its former owners.
The hotel was purchased in a real estate deal of $25 million (the owner wanted $60 million) and Mr Schwartz has spent $15 million upgrading it.
“We bought the hotel when my son Dane was born and aimed to make it the most kid friendly hotel in Australia,” he said.
“It involved boosting the kitchen, building an extra wing to meet the demand for suites” and also adding “bowling alleys, climbing facilities, mirror mazes”.
The hotelier recently had ponies approved by council is “contemplating putting in an ice rink just over next winter”.
“It took one year to lose its bad reputation and people started spreading the word,” Mr Schwartz said. “It was by doing the obvious things that are necessary to keep a great hotel in great condition. Under Chinese ownership they let the hotel run down ... we brought it back to its former glory.
“In its heyday it won copious awards and we’ve won quite a few awards, but it’s always great to be acknowledged for the work we’ve put in,” he said.
Other star performing Mountains’ hotels included Emirates Wolgan Valley which took out Regional Deluxe Hotel of the Year, as well as the Best Environmental Practices and Health Club and Spa Facilities awards. The Hydro Majestic’s head chef Mate Herceg won regional Chef of the Year and Darley’s Restaurant, Lilianfels, won Regional Restaurant of the Year.
The Blue Mountains hotels had to compete in a record field of nominations, with judges assessing more than 300 nominations from 71 top accommodation venues across NSW competing in 34 award categories.
Chair of TAA NSW Peter Tudehope congratulated the Blue Mountains hotels for their outstanding performance and said it highlighted “the richness and diversity of quality accommodation offerings available in the Blue Mountains these days”.
“It is particularly impressive that the region was recognised for two prestigious food-related awards – ‘Chef of the Year’ and also Best Regional Restaurant,” Mr Tudehope said.
“These awards show clearly that the Blue Mountains offers world class accommodation and dining venues.”