Approximately 500 members of the hospitality industry attended the 17th Annual ROSE Awards at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, an event organized by the Northeast Chapter of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA). The ROSE Awards, which stands for Recognition of Service Excellence, are held to honor frontline workers in Northeast Florida’s hospitality sector.
This year’s ceremony saw record participation, with more than 149 nominees representing nearly 45 businesses. Thirty-three individuals were recognized as ROSE Award winners for their contributions to customer service and operational excellence.
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 received an award statue, a ROSE Award pin, and recognition from both peers and industry leaders. Middle managers were also acknowledged during the ceremony for their dedication.
Carol Dover, President & CEO of FRLA said: “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.”
The list of winners included employees from hotels such as Marriott Jacksonville Downtown, Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village, The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island; restaurants like Meehan’s Irish Pub; service providers including St. Johns Food Service; resorts such as Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa; among others. Categories ranged from administrative assistant to culinary service staff to guest services roles across multiple sectors within hospitality.
The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association was founded in 1946 as a trade association for Florida’s hospitality industry. With over 10,000 members—including independent operators and large franchises—the organization provides advocacy on legislative issues affecting its members. It also offers regulatory compliance training through Safe Staff and RCS Training subsidiaries as well as high school programs via its Educational Foundation.
