The riverfront Bridgeport Hotel re-opened its doors last June following a $45 million redevelopment including a 100-room hotel, dining rooms, a sports bar and extensive meeting and events facilities.

The major revamp by owners Graham Hobbs and Ian Tregoning followed 25 years of ownership and 11 years of planning and development.

The owners also introduced a jobs program for the long-term unemployed in the region.

The Bridgeport Hotel in Murray Bridge.

The Australia Hotel Association Awards state winners were announced in October, progressing to this week’s national awards.

The six-storey Bridgeport Hotel is part of EDP Hotels (formerly Eureka Hotel Group), which operates 17 licensed venues and 10 bottle shops across SA.

Tregoning said the award was overwhelming and a testament to his team’s hard work and dedication to the redevelopment and running of the Bridgeport.

“Uniquely, we designed it in-house, we built it in-house and we run it in-house,” he said.

“Murray Bridge has been long overdue for high-quality accommodation which will act as a springboard for local tourism.”

Adelaide Hills pubs the Stirling and Uraidla hotels and the refurbished Mount Lofty House were also among the winners.

The Stirling was recognised as Best Bistro while the Uraidla’s Heath Johansen was awarded the best front of house employee in the general division.

Chris Speck, from Mount Lofty House, was the nation’s best front of house employee in the accommodation division.

In other parts of the state, the Watervale Hotel in the Mid North was recognised as having best the environmental and energy efficiency practices and CBD pub the Duke of Brunswick was recognised for its community service and support.

Third generation hotelier Greg Fahey was inducted into the AHA Hall of Fame.

Fahey is head of the Fahey Hotel group, which owns six SA pubs including city venues the Exeter and Havelock and the Lakes Hotel at West Lakes.

Greg Fahey

Winners from state awards attended the presentation dinner at Hobart’s Princes Wharf on Monday night.

AHA National President Scott Leach said it was a significant and morale-boosting event given the enormous challenges the industry had faced over the past two years.

“And while we took the opportunity to laud the stars of our industry, the occasion was just as much about an acknowledgement of the resilience and commitment of our members right across the spectrum,” he said.

“Against all odds, industry operators right around the country have continued to provide the highest possible levels of industry service and customer experience. Their innovation, their optimism and their commitment has shone through.”

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