Sonoma County Tourism will celebrate the best and brightest in the tourism and hospitality industry at the 2024 Stars of the Industry Awards on Wednesday, May 22 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Sonoma Wine Country. The event is designed to celebrate businesses that contribute to the wellbeing of our community and make Sonoma County a vibrant vacation destination, as well as the unsung hospitality workforce that go above and beyond in service to our visitors.

Nominate the best and brightest in Sonoma County's tourism and hospitality industry!

Sonoma County Tourism is delighted to announce the 2024 Stars of the Industry Awards will take place on Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024.

Nominations are now closed. Finalist announcements and public voting coming soon.

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.

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

Nominations are now closed.

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 [email protected].

2023 Stars of the Industry

The best and brightest in Sonoma County's tourism and hospitality industry gathered at the Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country Tuesday night to celebrate the 2023 Sonoma County Tourism Stars of the Industry Awards. Wine Country Radio’s own Natalie Wright served as host, recognizing 30 industry professionals, and presenting 11 awards to businesses and individuals that have excelled in, or have had a positive effect on, the Sonoma County tourism and hospitality industry.

The inaugural Stars of the Industry Awards occurred in 2021 as part of Sonoma County Tourism’s annual meeting. The awards proved so successful Sonoma County Tourism elected to create a standalone celebration corresponding with National Travel & Tourism Week (May 7-13). As with the previous year’s awards, Sonoma County Tourism solicited the local hospitality industry to submit nominations. A committee then pared the nominations down to three finalists in each category before inviting the industry to vote for the winners. During the voting window, online ballot submissions were limited to one per day, per email address, with 6,450 respondents casting 21,269 votes in all.

2023 Stars of the Industry Award Winners:

  1. Front of the House  Bryan Bergman – Server, LO & BEHOLD
  2. Heart of the House  Santos Perez De Wile – Room Attendant, Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa
  3. Rising Star  Hayden Puryear – Tasting Room Manager, Larson Family Wines
  4. Environmental Stewardship/Sustainable Practices  Ridge Vineyards
  5. Customer Experience  Brewsters Beer Garden
  6. Lodging Property of the Year  The Lodge at Bodega Bay
  7. Community Enrichment Transcendence Theatre Company
  8. Champion of the Industry  Dustin Valette - Valette/The Matheson
  9. Innovation Award  J Vineyards & Winery

2023 Stars of the Industry Finalist

Front of the House Finalists

Bryan Bergman – Server, LO & BEHOLD
Lichi Bowers – Server, River’s End Restaurant & Inn
Linda Cook Sproul – Hospitality Manager, Journeyman Meat Company

Heart of the House Finalists

Diane McGowan – Accounting and Compliance Manager, Inman Family Wines
Norma Aguilar – Room Attendant, DoubleTree by Hilton Sonoma Wine Country
Santos Perez De Wile – Room Attendant, Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa

Innovation Finalists

Dickinson Glass Studio and Showroom
The Altamont General Store
J Vineyards & Winery

Rising Star Finalists

Hayden Puryear – Tasting Room Manager, Larson Family Wines
Ashley Songer – Tasting Room Lead, Muscardini Cellars
Aaron Moore – Director of Sales, Hotel E/ Art House Hotel

Lodging Property of the Year Finalists

The Astro
The Lodge at Bodega Bay
Montage

Accredited Hospitality Professional Program Champion

Analy High School

Legacy Award

Don & Thera Buttaro

Customer Experience Finalists

Sonoma Zipline Adventures
Fleur Sauvage Chocolates
Brewsters Beer Garden

Community Enrichment Finalists

Transcendence Theatre Company
Encore Events Rentals
Vintners Foundation

Environmental Stewardship/Sustainable Practices Finalists

Psychic Pie
SingleThread
Ridge Vineyards

2022 Stars of the Industry Finalist

Front of the House Finalists

Shari Shabanian - Banquet Captain, DoubleTree by Hilton Sonoma Wine Country
Lawrence Ku - Volunteer Docent, Charles M. Schulz Museum
Robert Young - Manager, Robert Young Winery Tasting Room

Customer Engagement Finalists

Domaine de La Riviere
Vineyard Corridor
Pure Luxury Transportation

Heart of the House Finalists

Gray Rollin - Owner, Belly Left Coast Kitchen + Taproom
Evelin Orellana - Executive Housekeeper, Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Rohnert Park
Pasang Sherpa - Server Assistant, Wit & Wisdom

Innovation Finalists

365 Recreational Cannabis
WILDHAVEN
Mine + Farm

Rising Star Finalists

Kristen Fisher - Hotel GM, boon hotel + spa
Jennifer Adams - Virtual and Specialty Tasting Sales Manager, Landmark Vineyards
Ama Waya-Bivin - Tasting Room Lead, Wilson Winery

Environment Stewardship-Sustainable Practices Finalists

The Astro
Medlock Ames
Kendall Jackson

Ally of the Industry Finalists

Leland Fishman - Fishman Supply Company
Duskie Estes - Farm to Pantry
Chef Mei Ibach - West County High School

Lodging Property of the Year Finalists

boon hotel + spa
Hampton Inn & Suites Windsor - Sonoma Wine Country
Hotel La Rose

Accredited Hospitality Professional Program Champion

Kirk Lok - Quality Inn & Fairfield Inn & Suites

Legacy Award

The Count, George Webber - Buena Vista