November 15, 2022
The winners of the 2022 Stars of the Industry Awards were announced Monday, November 14 at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center. The Stars of the Industry is the Alabama Restaurant and Hospitality Association\’s (ARHA) annual awards dinner honoring the restaurant, lodging, and tourism industry.
The Stars awards are peer-nominated and winners were voted on by the Stars committee and ARHA’s board of directors. There were a record 140 nominations submitted this year and the winners in each category were presented with trophies by the ARHA Chairman, Penny Groux.
The year\’s event was quite extraordinary. Attendees toured the new state-of-the-art Tony and Libba Rane Culinary Science Center at Auburn University during the reception while the regional bartender finalists competed in the state Bartender of the Year competition held in the The Distilled Spirits Laboratory. Guest also were invited to a reception atop The Rooftop at The Laurel Hotel and Spa and another reception was held in the hotel conference center. Guests enjoyed a fabulous dinner prepared by Chef Leonardo Maurelli III served with wine compliments of United-Johnson Brothers of Alabama.
Eunice Elliott, author, public speaker, podcast host and stand-up comedian, served as the emcee for the evening.
The winner in each category are as follows:
2022 Stars of the Industry Awards Winners:
Back of the House Hospitality Employee of the Year:
Sarina White – Ithaka Hospitality Partners, Auburn
Back of the House Restaurant Employee of the Year:
John King – Panini Pete\’s, Fairhope
Front of the House Hospitality Employee of the Year:
Brittany Robertson – Perdido Beach Resort, Orange Beach
Front of the House Restaurant Employee of the Year:
Jesse McKinney – Sunset Pointe, Fairhope
Hospitality Department Manager of the Year:
Jennifer Cammarata – Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa, Florence (PCH Hotels & Resorts)
Restaurant Manager of the Year:
Michael Gaona – Perdido Beach Resort, Orange Beach
Small Hotelier of the Year:
Jorg Wesche – Grand Bohemian Hotel, Mountain Brook
Best New Culinarian of the Year:
Andrew Kimbrell – 360 Grille (Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa), Florence (PCH Hotels & Resorts)
Humanitarian Award:
Pete Blohme – PP Hospitality Group, Mobile
Bartender of the Year:
Carla Irene – Bar La Fête, Birmingham
Supplier of the Year:
Brown-Forman Corporation
Tourism Promoter of the Year:
Brooke Kastner – Auburn-Opelika Tourism
Chef of the Year:
Eric Rivera – Vintage Hospitality Group, Montgomery
Hotelier of the Year:
Margo Gilbert – The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa (PCH Hotels & Resorts)
Restaurateur of the Year:
Nick Dimario – PP Hospitality Group, Mobile
Spirit Award:
Johnny Stewart – Panini Pete\’s, Fairhope
Lifetime Achievement Award:
Don Staley, Tuscaloosa Tourism & Sports (retired)
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