InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto named best hotel in Australasia region ... - The Australian

Intercontinental Melbourne Rialto has been named the best hotel in Australasia in the World Travel Awards. Source: Supplied

MELBOURNE'S Intercontinental The Rialto has beaten Sydney's Park Hyatt and the Gold Coast's Palazzo Versace to be named the best hotel in Australia in the travel industry’s equivalent of The Oscars.

"Six star'' resort qualia on Hamilton Island in Queensland was named the country's leading resort, while Lilianfels in the NSW Blue Mountains got the gong best spa resort.

The World Travel Award winners for Australia and the Australasia region were announced in Singapore last night.

Intercontinental Melbourne The Rialto general manager Joerg T. Boeckeler said the hotel was unique yet "quintessentially Melbourne''.

Located on Collins St in one of the Victorian capital's most iconic buildings, the hotel has a gothic facade with modern interior design.

The unique appeal of the Intercontinenta Melbourne The Rialto Hotel appealed to judges for the World Travel Awards. Source: Supplied

Another Melbourne property - the Lyall Hotel and Spa - was named Australia's best boutique hotel in the awards.

But Sydney's revamped Park Hyatt Hotel, which has point blank views of Sydney Harbour, did not miss out.

After undergoing a multi-million dollar revamp it was awarded the country's best business hotel and Australasia's best new hotel.

The Sheraton on the Park in Sydney was named Australasia's leading hotel while The Star in Sydney was named the region's best casino resort.

Hayman on the Great Barrier Reef was recognised as the top resort for families and Virgin Australia was named best low-cost airline.

Abercrombie and Kent was named Australasia's best tour operator while Flight Centre was the leading travel agency.

Nominees for the awards are voted on across the globe by travel professionals and customers.

Regional winners from Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australasia, Africa and the Indian Ocean and the Americas will compete at the World Travel Awards grand final in India in December.