ARHA 2022 Stars of the Industry Award Winners Announced

The winners of the 2022 Stars of the Industry Awards were announced Monday, November 14 at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center. The Stars of the Industry is the Alabama Restaurant and Hospitality Association's (ARHA) annual awards dinner honoring the restaurant, lodging, and tourism industry.

The Stars awards are peer-nominated and winners were voted on by the Stars committee and ARHA’s board of directors. There were a record 140 nominations submitted this year and the winners in each category were presented with trophies by the ARHA Chairman, Penny Groux.

The year's event was quite extraordinary. Attendees toured the new state-of-the-art Tony and Libba Rane Culinary Science Center at Auburn University during the reception while the regional bartender finalists competed in the state Bartender of the Year competition held in the The Distilled Spirits Laboratory. Guest also were invited to a reception atop The Rooftop at The Laurel Hotel and Spa and another reception was held in the hotel conference center. Guests enjoyed a fabulous dinner prepared by Chef Leonardo Maurelli III served with wine compliments of United-Johnson Brothers of Alabama.

Eunice Elliott, author, public speaker, podcast host and stand-up comedian, served as the emcee for the evening.

The winner in each category are as follows:
 
Chef of the Year:
Eric Rivera - Vintage Hospitality Group, Montgomery