New Mexico Restaurant Association opens nominations for Hospitality Industry Awards

Jun. 24—The New Mexico Restaurant Association has opened nominations for its 2024 Hospitality Industry Awards, which recognize everything from chef of the year to manager of the year.

The awards opened June 14, and nominations will be accepted through 2 p.m. July 15, the organization said in a news release. Nominations can be submitted online at nmrestaurants.org.

Award categories include:

Chef of the Year, which honors "culinary excellence, innovation, and leadership in the kitchen."

Manager of the Year, which recognizes "exceptional management skills, dedication to staff development, and operational excellence."

Restaurateur of the Year, which celebrates "visionary leadership, business acumen, and community impact."

Face of Diversity Award, which highlights "individuals or establishments that promote diversity and inclusion within the hospitality industry."

Community Service Award, which acknowledges "those who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to community involvement and charitable activities."

The awards ceremony will be held Sept. 16 at Sandia Resort & Casino.

In a statement, New Mexico Restaurant Association CEO Carol Wight said the awards "are our way of showcasing the incredible talent and hard work that define New Mexico's hospitality sector.

"We encourage everyone to participate by nominating those who have gone above and beyond to make our industry thrive," she added.