Terms and conditions
Event terms and conditions are set by Australian Hotels Association (Victoria)
Please see below terms and conditions of entry and participation for the 2027 AHA (Vic) State Awards for Excellence (SAFE).
References to ‘members’ relate to current financial members of AHA (Vic).
Entry process
Members are required to submit their nominations via the https://www.ahavicawards.com.au/
Nominations open on Monday, 26 October 2026 and close Monday 30 November 2026 at 5pm.
Nomination/submission criteria
Each category has specific nomination criteria. Click here, to view the criteria for each category.
All written submissions and supporting documents are due by Monday, 14 December 2026 at 5pm
Personal and contact details are collected to enable the judging process to be completed. By submitting your nomination, you also agree to SAFE event managers using and sharing this information, where necessary, to complete this process.
Eligibility
To be eligible to enter the SAFE, your venue must be a current financial member of AHA (Vic).
Each category has specific eligibility criteria. Please visit the award categories tab and click on individual categories to review your eligibility.
Nomination fees
Nomination fees to enter in 2027 are between $100 and $280 (Inc GST) depending on the category you nominate in.
- Individual Employee Awards: $200 per nomination
- Dining Awards: $260 per nomination
- General Awards: $210 per nomination
- Accommodation Awards: $270 per nomination
- Gaming and Wagering: $210 per nomination
- Performance Awards: $200 per nomination
- Best Function and Events Space: $280 per nomination
- Parma of the Year: $100 per nomination
Any properties with an outstanding nomination invoice will be ineligible to proceed to the judging phase. All nomination invoices must be paid in full prior to judging.
Judging process
Depending on the category, award entrants are judged by an anonymous property visit, review of a written submission, or Zoom interview.
There must be a minimum of three entrants in a category for all entrants to progress to the judging phase.
Judging for the SAFE 2027 will take place between Monday, 11 January 2027 – Friday, 5 March 2027.
If you are a non-finalist, you will receive feedback on the judges’ experience following the announcement of finalists and non-finalists. Finalists will receive their feedback after the awards ceremony on Monday, 24 May 2027.
All judging is completed by a third-party anonymous assessment organisation that is completely independent of AHA (Vic).
Dining, General, Accommodation, Gaming and Wagering Awards: Anonymous property visit
Performance Awards: Assessment of written submission.
Best Function and Event Space will also be subject to an anonymous property visit.
Employee Awards Categories: Review of the employee's résumé and Zoom interview.
Judging reimbursement
Pubs and hotels nominating in the dining, general, accommodation, gaming and wagering award categories will be invoiced to cover the actual cost of judging in each particular category.
Depending on the category, the reimbursements may include additional costs required to complete the specific category judging.
For example, the reimbursement for Best Family Dining awards will cover the cost for a family to dine at your venue.
Reimbursements may include, but not are not limited to:
- Dining Awards: Two courses and two beverages for one person.
- Family dining: Two courses and two beverages for two people and one kids meal.
- General Awards: One meal and two beverages for one person.
- Accommodation Awards: One night's accommodation - standard room, one meal, two beverages and breakfast for one person and parking (if applicable).
- Gaming and wagering: Two beverages and one $10 wager.
Reimbursement Process
Once judging is completed, participating pubs and hotels will be issued an invoice to cover the actual cost of property visit judging. Any identifying information may be removed from the supporting documents to maintain a judge’s anonymity.
All invoices must be paid within 14 days from the invoice date.
Any properties with an outstanding invoice (including reimbursements or tickets) after Friday, 14 May 2027 will be ineligible to receive an award.
Tickets
SAFE will only offer a refund of a ticket if the event is cancelled. SAFE does not offer refunds as a result of a change in your personal circumstances. Should the event be rescheduled, your ticket will be transferred to the new event date.
Tickets sales close Friday, 30 April 2027 or when sold out.
Any final dietary request will be accepted, up until 12pm, five (5) standard business days before the event. Attendee substitutions may be made until the event commences.
Photography/videography
Photos and logos will be used for several marketing activities conducted by AHA (Vic) in promoting finalists and the awards night. Planned activities include general event marketing material, pre-event finalist announcements, a multi-media presentation to be played on the evening and post-event media releases. AHA (Vic) also reserves the right to use any images taken at the event for ongoing promotions, marketing material and collateral.
Regional or metropolitan Melbourne
We have used the VGCCC definition as to whether your hotel is regional (R) or metropolitan (M).
Depending on the city council or shire your property is located in will determine the classification. Please see the list below:
| LGA Name | Region |
| City of Banyule | M |
| City of Boroondara | M |
| City of Brimbank | M |
| City of Casey | M |
| City of Darebin | M |
| City of Frankston | M |
| City of Greater Dandenong | M |
| City of Hobsons Bay | M |
| City of Hume | M |
| City of Kingston | M |
| City of Knox | M |
| City of Manningham | M |
| City of Maroondah | M |
| City of Melbourne | M |
| City of Monash | M |
| City of Moreland | M |
| City of Port Phillip | M |
| City of Whitehorse | M |
| City of Whittlesea | M |
| City of Wyndham | M |
| City of Yarra | M |
| Shire of Cardinia | M |
| Shire of Melton | M |
| Shire of Mornington Peninsula | M |
| Shire of Yarra Ranges | M |
| City of Ballarat | R |
| City of Greater Bendigo | R |
| City of Greater Geelong | R |
| City of Greater Shepparton | R |
| City of Latrobe | R |
| City of Warrnambool | R |
| Rural City of Benalla | R |
| Rural City of Horsham | R |
| Rural City of Mildura | R |
| Rural City of Swan Hill | R |
| Rural City of Wangaratta | R |
| Rural City of Wodonga | R |
| Shire of Alpine | R |
| Shire of Bass Coast | R |
| Shire of Baw Baw | R |
| Shire of Campaspe | R |
| Shire of Central Goldfields | R |
| Shire of East Gippsland | R |
| Shire of Glenelg | R |
| Shire of Macedon Ranges | R |
| Shire of Mitchell | R |
| Shire of Moorabool | R |
| Shire of Northern Grampians | R |
| Shire of South Gippsland | R |
| Shire of Surf Coast | R |
| Shire of Wellington | R |
| Shire oof Colac-Otway | R |
AHA National Awards
Should you be a category winner, you may be eligible to enter the 2027 AHA National Awards.
By confirming your automatic precommitment to enter the AHA National Awards, as the category winner, you acknowledge that you will be sent an invoice for the nominations fee of $350 per category. This invoice will be issued after SAFE winners are announced.
In addition, if you are nominated for an accommodation category that requires overnight stay for judging purposes you will also be invoiced for the cost of one night’s accommodation and breakfast for two people (where required).
RIGHT TO WITHDRAW
Participants have the right to withdraw their entry from the awards program at any time by sending written notice to the event organisers. The notice of withdrawal must include the participant's name, contact information, and the title of the entry being withdrawn. Once the notice of withdrawal is received, the entry will be removed from the awards program and will no longer be considered for any awards or recognition. . In order to receive a refund for nomination fees, participants must notify the organiser prior to the commencement of the judging period. If a participant request to withdrawal their entry during the judging period, and the judging for the nomination has been completed, no refund can be permitted.
AHA (Vic) reserves the right to withdraw any entry from the awards program at any time, without notice or explanation. If an entry is withdrawn by the organisers, the participant will be notified and will be entitled to a refund of any fees paid.