GoRockford Hospitality Heroes Awards

GoRockford Announces Call for Nominations for Hospitality Hero Awards – GoRockford will honor local tourism heroes throughout National Travel and Tourism Week, May 19-May 25.   

Nominations are now open for the 2024 Hospitality Hero Awards for individuals who have greatly contributed to the travel and tourism experience in the greater Rockford area, including Cherry Valley, Machesney Park, Loves Park, Pecatonica, Rockton, Roscoe, and greater Winnebago County. Potential nominees could be a hotel staff member who provides exceptional customer service to guests, a server who went out of their way to make dining in Rockford extra special or a bartender who makes everyone feel right at home. 

Nominations are being accepted by filling out the nomination form below from March 18 to May 6, 2024. Categories include Hotel, Attraction, Sports Facility, Entertainment/Meeting Venue, or Restaurant/Bar/Catering.  All nominees must work in the hospitality industry within Winnebago County. Please submit only one individual per submission for the Hospitality Hero Award nomination.

Awards will be presented throughout Travel & Tourism Week and announced on social media. The winners will be gifted a gift card, trophy, and Rockford Themed basket to honor their exemplary service in hospitality. 

2024 Winners

• Hotel: Tina Sumner, Holiday Inn Express
• Attraction: Gina Brown, Discovery Center Museum 
• Sporting Venue: Milton Phillips, UW Health Sports Factory
• Entertainment/Meeting Venue: Donna Johnson, Savor/ASM
• Restaurant/Bar/Catering: Karla Graham, The Office Niteclub

2023 Award Winners

• Xavier Lewis, Northern Illinois University Rockford 
• Catalina Moreno, Embassy Suites 
• Shuntae Chance, Staybridge Suites 
• Becky Starks, Mercyhealth Sportscore 

Established in 1983, National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) is an annual tradition to celebrate the U.S. travel community and travel’s essential role in stimulating economic growth, cultivating vibrant communities, creating quality job opportunities, inspiring new businesses and elevating the quality of life for Americans every day.