Nearly 200 people gathered at The Henderson Beach Resort in Destin, Florida, to honor frontline hospitality employees as part of the Northwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) event. Partnering with Walton County Tourism and Destin Fort Walton Beach, the FRLA recognized individuals who have significantly impacted the local hospitality industry.
The event celebrated over 40 nominees, with ten selected for a Hospitality Hero Award. Each winner received an award and $500 in recognition of their exceptional service and commitment to guest experiences.
Marissa Bonham, Northwest Florida Regional Director for FRLA and organizer of the event, stated, “What an honor to recognize and celebrate the heart of our industry with the Hospitality Heroes Awards. This heartwarming event has left a lasting impression on not only the nominees and award winners but everyone in attendance.”
Carol Dover, President & CEO of FRLA, highlighted the region’s global reputation for outstanding hospitality: “Every single team member in our restaurants and hotels plays a vital role in delivering the exceptional service that drives our success. Congratulations to our nominees and winners! Our industry is second to none because of you, our hospitality heroes.”
The 2025 Hospitality Heroes include Grace Carver from The Bald & The Beard Restaurant Group as Best Restaurant FOH Employee and Dwayne Barnett from Jim Shirley Enterprises as Best Restaurant BOH Employee. Other notable winners are Gemma Fought as Best Restaurant Manager and Michael Reinsmith as Best Culinary/Kitchen Manager.
The FRLA serves as Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association with over 10,000 members. It was founded in 1946 and merged with the Florida Hotel and Motel Association in 2006. The organization advocates for legislative issues affecting its members while providing regulatory compliance training through Safe Staff and RCS Training.
