Celebrating excellence in New Hampshire's hospitality industry, the New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association (NHLRA) hosted its 95th annual "Stars of the Industry" awards dinner last week at the Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods.
Each year the "Stars of the Industry" awards are given to those individuals who exemplify the best of NH's hospitality industry. This year's honorees give back to their communities in diverse ways and spend time helping numerous non-profit groups. Honorees typically excel in their positions and inspire coworkers. Collectively, they have provided examples of the qualities, attributes and actions of true stars of the industry.
The NHLRA awards committee, comprised of past honorees, review applications and narrowed the field to three finalists per category. Bob Arnold, NHLRA Awards committee chair, said, "It's a difficult process to choose the finalists, but an extremely rewarding one. Reading about these 'star' colleagues, you get a clear picture of how much difference one person really can make."
In Academy Awards style, the honorees are kept a closely guarded secret until revealed at the annual dinner.
The 2009 Award honorees are as follows:
- "Ed Bednarowski" Allied Member of the Year-Greg Crocker, New England Coffee;
- Innkeeper of the Year-Dicky Desai, Hill-Brook Motel, Bedford;
- Restaurateurs of the Year-Terry O'Brien, Red Parka Pub, North Conway;
- Lodging Employee of the Year-Michele Hoffman, Radisson Hotel Nashua;
- Restaurant Employee of the Year–Rob Clifford, Fratello's Ristorante, Laconia;
- Excellence in Education–Chris Mongeon, Sodexo Dining Services at Plymouth State University;
- Green Giant Awards - Lodging–Rob Burbank, Appalachian Mountain Club, Bretton Woods;
- Green Giant Awards - Restaurant–Priscilla Lane Rondeau, 900 Degrees, Manchester.
The dinner also recognized state winners of the National Restaurant Association's Restaurant Neighbor Award. Each year, the NRA and American Express salute restaurateurs with this award who go above and beyond in giving back to their communities. The 2009 recipients are:
- State Winner - National Restaurant Association Neighbor Award - 900 Degrees, Manchester;
- State Winner - National Restaurant Association Neighbor Award - Tio Juan's Margaritas;
- State Winner - National Restaurant Association Neighbor Award - Great NH Restaurants; and
- National Winner - National Restaurant Association Cornerstone Humanitarian of the Year Award - Alex Ray, Common Man Families.
