Categories Honoring Individuals

1) Front of the House

This award recognizes a front of the house employee who goes above and beyond to provide excellent customer service to guests and exemplifies dependability, teamwork and dedication. Examples of Front of the House positions include (but are not limited to): servers, hosts, baristas, front desk staff, valets, bellpersons, banquet service staff, concierges, etc. 

2) Heart of the House

This award recognizes a heart of the house employee who goes above and beyond to help the operation run smoothly and exemplifies dependability, teamwork and dedication to the industry. Examples of Heart of the House staff include (but are not limited to): housekeeping, stewarding, kitchen staff, chefs/cooks, engineering/maintenance, laundry, accounting, etc.

3) Rising Star

This award recognizes an individual who has worked in the industry for under 5 years and has shown a passion for or dedication to the world of hospitality. This individual’s hard work and talent has bettered their workplace and business output and is destined for great things within the hospitality industry.

Categories Honoring Businesses

4) Environmental Stewardship/Sustainable Practices

This award recognizes a hospitality business that has developed a culture toward integrating environmentally sustainable practices within everyday operations. Examples include (but are not limited to): instituting green design and equipment, water conservation, local food and product sourcing, and waste reduction programs. 

5) Customer Experience

This award recognizes a hospitality organization that offers exceptional service creating a customer-centric environment, creates goodwill among guests, actively engages their customers in their business or brand, and/or elevates the visitor experience.  

6) Lodging Property of the Year

This award recognizes a Sonoma County lodging property that exemplifies excellence and elevates the visitor experience.   

7) Community Enrichment

This award recognizes a hospitality business that gives back to the community through philanthropy, and/or partnership with local non-profit organizations.

8) Best Tourism Partnership 

This award recognizes any campaign, program, tour, publication, event or other activity that is the result of a partnership between two businesses or organizations that shared resources to promote a common tourism experience or product.  

Categories Honoring Individuals or Businesses

9) Champion of the Industry 

This award recognizes an individual or organization who has supported, championed, or advocated for the Sonoma County hospitality industry. Examples of Champions could include: business services used by hospitality businesses, public organizations, or individuals that serve the industry through their work or advocacy. While this award is designed to honor those that support the hospitality industry, nominations of champions within the hospitality industry will also be considered.  

Categories Honoring A Sonoma County Visitor Center

10) Sonoma County Visitor Center Program of the Year 

This award recognizes any campaign, program, tour, publication, event or other activity produced by a Sonoma County Visitor Center that has enhanced the visitor experience. 

11) Sonoma County Visitor Center Volunteer of the Year 

This award recognizes a Sonoma County Visitor Center volunteer for providing an exceptional experience for visitors.

Please note that each business is limited to one nomination per category, but multiple category nominations will be accepted.

Nominations are due by Friday, March 1st at 5 pm. Late entries cannot be accepted.

Once the submission deadline has passed, three finalists from each category will be announced, and public voting will begin! Winners will be announced at the official ceremony on Wednesday, May 22nd.

If you have questions about the Stars of the Industry Awards, please contact Kelly Bass Seibel at kseibel@sonomacounty.com.