In the run up to the 2018 Top HAT Awards Gala, we will be spotlighting the individuals, teams, campaigns, hotels and experiences that make this event such a special celebration of industry excellence.
Nominate for a Premier Award
2017 Winner: Santa Fe Valet (Paul Thompson & Associates)
Supplier/Vendor of the Year
The Top HAT Award for Supplier/Vendor of the Year is designated to recognize a community partner that demonstrates strong support for the travel, tourism and/or lodging businesses and helping them reach their goals.
2017 Winner: Kenneth Riege
Hospitality Professional of the Year
The Top HAT Hospitality Professional of the Year Award recognizes a hospitality professional who has demonstrated exceptional customer service and dedication to the property's brand promise, and has also actively contributed to the growth of the New Mexico tourism, travel and lodging industries as a whole.
2017 Winner: Sunrise Springs Spa Resort
(Santa Fe)
Full Service Hotel of the Year
The Top HAT Full Service Hotel of the Year Award recognizes a lodging establishment that has displayed dedication to an excellent guest experience and has actively contributed to the growth of the tourism, travel and lodging industry as a whole.

Note: a full service hotel is classified as a lodging establishment that DOES have a dedicated, revenue-generating F&B component.
2017 Winner: Wendi Gelfound
Tourism Professional of the Year
The Top HAT Professional of the Year Award recognizes an overall outstanding tourism industry professional who has not only performed exceptionally regarding the promotion and development of tourism, but has also actively contributed to the growth of the New Mexico tourism, travel and lodging industries as a whole.
2017 Winner: Lundeen Inn of the Arts (Las Cruces)
Limited Service Hotel of the Year
The Top HAT Limited Service Hotel of the Year Award recognizes a lodging establishment that has displayed dedication to an excellent guest experience and has actively contributed to the growth of the tourism, travel and lodging industry as a whole.

Note: a limited service hotel is classified as a lodging establishment that does NOT have a dedicated, revenue-generating F&B component.
Deadline for all Top HAT Award submissions:
Friday, Sept. 14 at 5:00 pm (MT)
Nomination Tips
In order to ensure your nomination for any of our awards is as strong and comprehensive as possible, follow these helpful tips when completing your nomination:

  • Tell a story. This is our industry’s opportunity to celebrate excellence, but that excellence would not exist without the people. A terrific way to highlight achievement and exceeding the call of duty is to share stories about the nominee that demonstrate that fact.
  • Include numbers. No matter what award you are submitting a nomination for, there are numbers you can include to validate the success of your employee, team, campaign, event, venue, etc.
  • Focus on the recent. These are annual awards, and submissions should focus on the achievement over the past year. Please refrain from including information in your submission prior to 2018 or your most recent complete fiscal year, unless the information provides germane context to the recent achievement (percent increase in visitation, sales, etc.) The judging body will emphasize these criteria when evaluating submissions this year.
Download our 2018 Top HAT Awards criteria form to review all of the information and content you will need to gather for any award you plan to submit a nomination. This will save you time and provide clarity.

We have revised some of the language outlining the parameters of some of the awards, along with some of the question fields, so please review the awards criteria form even if you have submitted an award in a previous year.
Register for the Top HAT Awards Gala
Of course, don't forget to register for the 2018 Top HAT Awards Gala, hosted at the Santa Ana Star Casino Hotel on November 8, 2018! Registration is open, so be sure to reserve your seat or a table for your team while seats are still available! We do have early bird pricing, which ends Oct. 5.
Member Pricing
Individual ticket - $80
Table of 10 - $800
General Admission
Individual ticket - $110
Table of 10 - $1,100
*pricing increases after Oct. 5