Approximately 500 people from the hospitality sector gathered at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront for the 17th Annual ROSE Awards, an event organized by the Northeast Chapter of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA). The ceremony, which was sold out, celebrated frontline hospitality workers in Northeast Florida.
The ROSE (Recognition of Service Excellence) Awards recognize individuals who provide exceptional service in hotels, restaurants, and related businesses. This year’s event saw record participation with more than 149 nominees representing nearly 45 businesses. Thirty-three team members received awards for their contributions to the industry.
Nicole Chapman, NE Florida FRLA Regional Director and creator of the event, stated: “At its heart, hospitality is about people taking care of people, and the ROSE Awards give us a chance to shine a light on the individuals who make that happen every single day. These honorees represent the warmth, professionalism, and pride that define our region’s visitor experience and keep guests returning year after year.”
Award recipients were recognized with a physical award, a ROSE Award pin, and acknowledgment from peers and industry leaders. Middle managers were also honored during the ceremony for their dedication.
Carol Dover, President & CEO of FRLA, commented: “Seeing hundreds of industry partners come together to celebrate frontline team members sends a powerful message – service excellence matters, and it deserves recognition. The ROSE Awards not only applaud outstanding performance, they also inspire the next generation of hospitality professionals to build meaningful, lifelong careers in this dynamic industry.”
Winners were named across several categories such as administrative assistant, banquet staff, bartenders in both hotel and restaurant settings, culinary service staff for hotels and restaurants, guest services including front desk personnel at full-service and select-service hotels as well as housekeeping staff. Other categories included customer service roles in concierge or recreation positions; food & beverage support; security; maintenance; transportation; servers across various types of dining establishments; laundry services; valet/bell attendants; allied member spotlight; behind-the-scenes contributors; and those recognized for going “Beyond the Call of Duty.”
The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association is a non-profit trade association founded in 1946. It merged with another state association in 2006 to represent over 10,000 members ranging from independent operators to large franchises. The FRLA advocates on behalf of its members’ interests at legislative levels while offering training programs focused on regulatory compliance and food safety through Safe Staff and RCS Training. Its Educational Foundation supports career-building high school programs statewide.
