Hospitality is built on people showing up. Early starts, late finishes, weekends, public holidays, and the quiet pride that comes from doing the job properly, even when no one is watching. For most restaurant and catering teams, excellence is not a moment. It is repetition, consistency and care, day after day.
The 2026 Restaurant & Catering Hostplus Awards for Excellence exist for one simple reason. To stop and acknowledge that work.
These Awards are not about chasing applause. They are about recognition. Recognition for businesses that have stayed the course. For teams that deliver service to the public under pressure, at pace, and to a standard they hold themselves to, not just what customers expect.
In an industry that rarely slows down, the Awards create a moment to look up and say this matters.
Restaurants and caterers do not enter awards because they have spare time. They enter because recognition has value.
For many businesses, the decision to enter starts with credibility. Being recognised through a national awards program gives operators something independent to stand behind. It says this business meets a standard that goes beyond self-promotion. That matters to customers, to partners, to suppliers, and increasingly to staff deciding where they want to build their careers.
There is also a practical side. The process of entering encourages operators to step back and review how they run their business. Submissions ask questions that operators do not always have time to ask themselves. What do we do well. Where are we strong. Where have we improved. Where are we heading.
For some, entering is about growth. Award recognition can support marketing, attract new customers, and open doors that would not otherwise be available. For others, it is about benchmarking. Seeing how your operation stacks up against peers across your state or nationally.
And for many, it is about pride. Pride in the business they have built and pride in the people who make it work.
Awards are often spoken about in terms of businesses, but their real impact is felt by teams.
Recognition tells staff that the long shifts count. That attention to detail matters. That consistency is noticed. When a business enters an awards program, it is effectively putting its team forward and saying this work deserves to be seen.
That has a powerful effect. Teams who feel valued stay longer, perform better, and carry themselves differently. Recognition builds confidence. It reinforces standards. It creates a shared sense of achievement that goes well beyond a single night or event.
For leaders, the Awards are also a chance to acknowledge people who are rarely in the spotlight. Front of house staff, kitchen teams, managers and support roles all play a part in delivering service to the public. Entering the Awards brings that contribution into the open.
The 2026 Awards have been designed to reflect the breadth of the restaurant and catering industry. There are categories recognising restaurants across different formats, from casual dining through to premium experiences. There are categories for cafés and emerging venues, as well as a strong focus on catering, including event caterers and site based operations.
Major awards such as Restaurant of the Year and Caterer of the Year recognise businesses that demonstrate excellence across multiple areas, from food and service through to operations and leadership.
The structure allows businesses to enter where it makes sense for them. Large or small. New or established. Urban or regional. The common thread is quality and consistency.
The past few years have tested hospitality businesses in ways no one expected. Staffing pressures, rising costs, changing customer behaviour and increased scrutiny have become part of daily operations.
In that environment, taking the time to recognise excellence is not a luxury. It is essential.
Awards give the industry a chance to celebrate what is working. To acknowledge resilience. To reinforce professional standards. To remind teams why they chose this industry in the first place.
They also send a message to the wider public. That restaurants and caterers are skilled professionals delivering a service that requires expertise, discipline and care.
For members of the Restaurant & Catering Association, there is an exclusive benefit available for the 2026 program. Members receive a 10 percent discount on award entry fees when submitted before 17 February.
It is a simple incentive, but a meaningful one. An opportunity to recognise your team, strengthen your business profile, and take part in a program that represents the best of the industry.
Entering the Restaurant & Catering Hostplus Awards for Excellence is not about claiming perfection. It is about standing behind your work.
It is about saying that what you do matters. That service matters. That the people behind the scenes deserve recognition.
For an industry built on showing up for others, the Awards are a chance to pause and acknowledge those who do it best.