Celebrating Louisville’s Finest in Tourism & Hospitality

Louisville Tourism will recognize the hospitality industry’s biggest local contributors at the highly anticipated ROSE (Recognition of Service Excellence) Awards ceremony on Wednesday, November 18 at The Louisville Palace. The annual event, which has been held for over 30 years, honors the unsung heroes of the industry who make Louisville a successful destination city by enhancing the city’s visitor experiences.

This year’s program will mark a new milestone for the event, streamed live for the first time on all WLKY digital platforms. Viewers at home can tune in at 6:30 P.M. EST.

The highlight of the ceremony is the presentation of the ROSE Award winners. There are 66 finalists this year representing eleven sectors of the industry.

The categories are:
Attractions
Behind the Scenes
Culinary Arts
Event Services
Food & Dining Experiences
Guest & Retail Services
Hotel Services (over 201 rooms)
Hotel Services (200 & under rooms)
Rising Star
Spirits
Tours & Transportation

Additional Awards:
The Louisville Hotel Association will sponsor the Spirit of Hospitality Award again this year, recognizing an “overall service champion,” of the 66 finalists.

The Dan Mangeot Lifetime Achievement Award is presented annually to an individual who has made significant contributions to the advancement of tourism and has a history of supporting the hospitality industry throughout their professional lifetime. This year’s recipient is Wayne Hettinger, owner of Visual Productions, producer of Thunder Over Louisville since 1991.

The Unity Award recognizes outstanding achievement in the promotion of kindness and unity in the hospitality industry. This year’s recipient is Vincenzo Gabriele, owner-operator of Vincenzo’s Italian Restaurant, to be presented by Kentucky Secretary of Tourism Lindy Casebier.

The Partner of the Year Award honors a partner who has played a pivotal role in advancing tourism initiatives. This year’s recipient is the University of Louisville Hospitality Management Program, for its contributions to developing future hospitality leaders.

The Ambassador Awards will be given to individuals who have significantly contributed to Louisville Tourism’s sales and services initiatives by helping to retain and bring convention business to Louisville.

“The ROSE Awards give us an opportunity to publicly recognize our hardworking community members who dedicate their professional lives to make Louisville an outstanding place to live, work and visit. The individuals we honor today help give Louisville an edge among other destinations in hospitality and service,” said Cleo Battle, Louisville Tourism President & CEO. “They are making an impact as they create positive experiences for our visitors, which ultimately contributes to the economic vibrancy of Louisville.”

The travel and tourism industry is the third largest industry in Louisville, currently supporting over 73,000 hospitality jobs in the city area.

Louisville Tourism appreciates the following companies for their generous support of this event:

Gold Sponsor: AJS

Silver Sponsors: Axxis, Inc., Crushed Ice Catering, Deckel & Moneypenny, Elevate the Production, Fleur de Lis Events & Design LLC, Hatfield Media, Louisville Hotel Association, Parking Management Company, PartyZone! Productions, Schmoop.it, The Louisville Palace, Tinsley Family Concessions, and the University of Louisville College of Business

Bronze Sponsors: Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, Indiana University Southeast, and Pedal Pub Louisville