VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — More than 150 hospitality professionals and industry leaders gathered at Daytona State College for the inaugural Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) Volusia Chapter ROSE Awards, recognizing employees who have made exceptional contributions to the local hospitality industry.
The ROSE Awards, which stands for Recognition of Service Excellence, honored frontline workers in a variety of hospitality roles, from housekeeping and front desk operations to culinary and management positions. Nearly 50 nominees were considered across 13 categories.
In addition to the awards, six students pursuing hospitality-related studies at Daytona State College and Bethune-Cookman University received scholarships.
Among the top honors, Heike Rampersad of Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort was named Hospitality Employee of the Year, while Lynn Flanders of the Ocean Center received Hospitality Leader of the Year. Domien Takx of Premier Resorts & Management was presented with the Bob Davis Legacy Award, which recognizes long-term leadership and service in Volusia County’s hospitality community.
Other award categories included Chef of the Year, Bartender of the Year, Housekeeping Employee of the Year, Front Desk Employee of the Year and Valet Employee of the Year.
Organizers said the event was created to spotlight the workers who help drive one of Volusia County’s largest industries and provide exceptional experiences for visitors throughout the region.
Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.