FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mobile Area Wins BIG at Alabama Restaurant & Hospitality Association
Annual Stars of the Industry Awards
MOBILE, AL., November 5, 2020 – The Mobile area can stand tall after the 2020 Stars of the Industry Awards presented by the Alabama Restaurant and Hospitality Association (ARHA) held November 2, 2020 in Montgomery, AL. with 35 of the finalists from Mobile and Baldwin Counties.
“ARHA solicits nominations each year from across the state to find the best in the industry in various categories” says, Mindy Hanan President & CEO, ARHA. “We received 110 nominations this year and being named as a finalist is truly a great honor.”
The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa and Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel brought home several trophies. Katie Brooks was awarded Back of House Hospitality Employee of the Year while Cosmin Fort received the Hospitality Manager of the Year award. John McKinley was awarded the highly competitive Chef of the Year honor. In total, both properties went into the awards ceremony with an impressive six finalists.
The Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa, sister PCH property to the Battle House, also had six finalists, two of whom were winners. Victoria Read took home the award for Best New Culinarian of the Year, and Scott Tripoli, for Hotelier of the Year.
Visit Mobile was honored with two finalists for the same category, Tourism Promoter of the Year: Mobile legend and Visit Mobile’s long-time Welcome Center Manager, Walter Calhoun and David Clark, Visit Mobile’s President & CEO. Amongst all the deserving finalists, David Clark won the award for his collaboration with many in the tourism industry to develop the Mobile Tourism Improvement District.
Mobile winners also included Monique Scott, aka Ms. Pinky, Wintzell’s Oyster House –Mobile, who tied with Anthony Hughes, Aloha Hospitality’s Baumhower’s Victory Grille – Birmingham, for Front of House Restaurant Employee of the Year.
The Eastern Shore and the Gulf Shores / Orange Beach area had winners as well. Raleigh Swan, The Hope Farm in Fairhope, won 3rd in the State Bartender of the Yearcompetition. Brittany Tibbitts, Perdido Beach Resort, won Front of House Hospitality Employee of the Year, Rufus Young, Original Oyster House – Gulf Shores, won the Spirit Award, and Brody Olive, Voyager’s at the Perdido Beach Resort, won Restaurateur of the Year.
*Pictured David Clark (President/CEO, Visit Mobile) with Walter Calhoun (Visitor Services Manager, Visit Mobile)
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About Visit Mobile:
Visit Mobile is the official destination marketing organization charged with attracting visitors and conventions to the Mobile area. To learn more about our historic destination and find out why Mobile is the city that’s Born To Celebrate, visit Mobile.org. This convention and visitor’s bureau is an accredited Destination Marketing Organization.