NCRLA

North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association

Stars of the Industry

It’s time again to celebrate the people who make our industry shine! The North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association’s 2019 Stars of the Industry Awards presented by Sysco/FreshPoint is an annual gala to recognize exemplary performance and service in hospitality across the state. This event draws 350+ hospitality professionals from around the state, as it is NCRLA’s signature event of the year. The awards presentation will be preceded by a fantastic dinner reception where guests will have the opportunity to sip & savor food and drink highlighting the latest culinary trends.

Join us for an incredible evening Feb. 18 at 5:30 pm at the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club!

Click Here for Tickets

If you need overnight accommodations, please see hotel group rates and room block information here.

The North Carolina hospitality industry is brimming with outstanding leaders who go above and beyond, raising the bar for excellence in performance, service, and commitment to the industry. These awards recognize members’ exemplary performance and qualities that set the high standards for the industry to achieve. The award winners are selected based on their exemplary service, leadership, innovation, and dedication in the restaurant, lodging and hospitality industries. Their commitment to the guest experience makes North Carolina a highlight for visitors from around the world and across the state.

2019 Stars of the Industry Awards Winners:

Read the Winner Bios

We’ll also recognize the top winners of NCRLA’s 2018 Chef Showdown: NCRLA Chef of the Year, Travis Myers of Willow’s Bistro, NCRLA Pastry Chef of the Year, Miranda Brown of The Asbury, and NCRLA Mixologist of the Year, Joe Nicol, representing Fainting Goat Spirits.

Award category descriptions are as follows:

Nominees must be restaurant members in good standing with NCRLA. This award honors a restaurant owner or company that is viewed as highly successful in the eyes of his or her fellow operators, employees and the community. Other areas of consideration include the nominee’s ability as an operator and his/her community involvement. In addition, nominees should have made contributions to the industry on the basis of his/her own business ethics, and have enhanced the overall image of the foodservice industry. In general, nominees should show an interest in protecting and promoting the foodservice industry. Previous winners.
Two awards will be given in this category to celebrate deserving employees at the management level and line level. Please feel free to nominate more than one deserving employee accordingly. Nominees must display outstanding service and a commitment to excellence in hospitality. Nominees must have been employed at a member restaurant for one year, and carry themselves with professionalism and display leadership abilities. Previous winners.
Nominees must be lodging members in good standing with NCRLA. This award honors a hotel owner or a company that is viewed as highly successful in the eyes of his or her fellow operators, employees, and the community. Other areas of consideration include the nominee’s ability as an operator and his/her community involvement. In addition, nominees should have made contributions to the industry on the basis of his/her own business ethics, and have enhanced the overall image of the lodging industry. In general, nominees should show an interest in protecting and promoting the hospitality industry. General managers, management company executives and property owners are eligible. Previous winners.
Two awards will be given in this category to celebrate deserving employees at the management level and line level. Please feel free to nominate more than one deserving employee accordingly. Nominees must display outstanding service and a commitment to excellence in hospitality. Nominees must have been employed at a member lodging establishment for one year, and carry themselves with professionalism and display leadership abilities. Previous winners.
Nominees must be individuals working for allied members of the hospitality industry and must be in good standing with NCRLA. This award honors a company or representative that is viewed as highly successful in the eyes of his/her fellow operators, employees and the community. Nominees should have made contributions to the industry on the basis of his/her own business ethics and have contributed to the overall image of the hospitality industry. In general, nominees should show an interest in protecting and promoting the hospitality industry. Previous winners.
This award honors an NCRLA member who has gone above and beyond in their service to the association. The nominee should be someone who has contributed significant time and energy to help NCRLA accomplish its mission. The award is named after longtime members Griff and June Glover of Pizza Inn and Diversified Foods. Previous winners.
This award honors the state legislator who has made the most legislative headway for the hospitality in the preceding legislative session. Previous winners.
This award will be given when appropriate to a member who has achieved significant success in the North Carolina hospitality industry. Previous winners.
This award honors members who make significant charitable impacts within their communities. Previous winners.

To review an event news release from 2018, click here.

Thank you to our sponsors:

Presenting: Sysco/FreshPoint
Platinum: Butterball
Gold: US Foods
Silver: Ecolab • United Healthcare
Bronze: Alsco • Got to Be NC Agriculture • S&D Coffee & Tea
Supporting: Ambius • Carolina Brewery • Durham Distillery • Fainting Goat Spirits • Fullsteam Brewery • Gnam Gnam Gelato • NC F&B Podcast • ONEHOPE Wine • Pepsi Bottling Company • Pig Pounder Brewery • Shelton Vineyards • TOPO Distillery • Tryon Distributing