The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau (HVAB) will begin accepting nominations for the second annual Happy Valley Hospitality Awards on Thursday, coinciding with Hospitality Appreciation Night at the State College Spikes 6:35 p.m. game at Medlar Field.
Awards will recognize excellence among back- and front-of-house employees in the local food and beverage and lodging industries.
“All hospitality positions – from back-of-house support to customer facing and supervisory roles – are valuable to ensuring that visitors and residents have positive dining, entertainment and lodging experiences,” HVAB President and CEO Fritz Smith said in a news release. “The Adventure Bureau launched the hospitality awards because we want those working in the industry to know that whatever their role, they are valued and appreciated.”
A special Spirit of Hospitality Award will honor a hospitality worker who exemplifies the traits that the late Pete Walker, former longtime Penn’s Cave & Wildlife Park manager, brought to his role: leading by example with an incomparable work ethic, a commitment to serving others, and leaving a positive impact on those around him.
We Are Inn owner and chef Pat Romano was the recipient of the inaugural Spirit of Hospitality award in 2022.
The new Community Favorite award, sponsored by Barash Media, will allow local residents to nominate their favorite server or bartender.
“We thought it would be a great idea to engage the local community in the nomination process,” Smith said. “People have their favorite dining hotspots and watering holes, and the service they receive is a big reason why. We want to know who residents think are our standout hospitality employees.”
Information about the Community Favorite award will be available at the Spikes game on Thursday.
The nomination period closes Friday, Sept. 29. Award nomination forms will be available at the following links:
• Food and Beverage Front of House
• Food and Beverage Back of House
An independent review committee will choose this year’s honorees from those nominated. The HVAB staff and board will select the Spirit of Hospitality recipient.
“We encourage our hospitality businesses to nominate deserving team members,” Smith said. “This is a chance to lift up the local industry in a big way.”
Winners will be recognized, all nominees acknowledged and the industry saluted at the HVAB’s Hospitality Awards & Celebration on Nov. 14 at Titan Hollow in Bellefonte.
