The RI Hospitality Association (RIHA) recently honored Newport and Middletown residents at its “Stars of the Industry” Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony at Twin River Casino Hotel.
The Stars of the Industry Awards recognize the outstanding achievements of members of the hospitality, foodservice and tourism industries. Award recipients are nominated by their peers, managers or customers and were chosen not only for their dedication and contributions to their careers, but for their involvement in their local communities.
“It’s an honor to congratulate this year’s Stars of the Industry winners for their hard work and dedication to our industry,” said Dale J. Venturini, President and CEO of RIHA. “With more than 80,000 Rhode Islanders working in the hospitality industry, each person plays an important role in our success and helps us to remain a cornerstone of the state’s economy.”
Newport Stars of the Industry award recipients include:
| NAME | BUSINESS | AWARD |
| Lindsay C. Chapin | Newport Hospitality, Inc. a DMC Network Company | Tourism Employee of the Year |
| Rob Freeborn | Gurney’s Newport Resort & Marina | Restaurant Employee of the Year |
| Christina Mercado | Grace Vanderbilt Hotel | Bartender of the Year |
| Alex Hurd, CMP | Discover Newport | Tourism Employee of the Year |
| Melissa Cicilline | SpaFjor at the Hotel Viking | Hotel Employee of the Year |
| Deborah L. Logler | Marriott Newport | Hotel Employee of the Year |
| Flor M. Pleitez Romero | Marriott Newport | Hotel Employee of the Year |
| Marleny Rodriguez | Gurney’s Newport Resort & Marina | Hotel Employee of the Year |
| Ray Schneider | Marriott Newport | Hotel Employee of the Year |
| Meghan O’Neil | The Preservation Society of Newport County | Emerging Leader of the Year |
| Raymond P. Roy | The Preservation Society of Newport County | Tourism Employee of the Year |
Middletown Stars of the Industry award recipients include:
| NAME | BUSINESS | AWARD |
| John Allan | Gurney’s Newport Resort & Marina | Hotel Employee of the Year |
| Natalie P. Manning | Discover Newport | Tourism Employee of the Year |
| Deb Lee | Blackstone Caterers | Catering Employee of the Year |
| Tom Desmond | Brick Alley Pub & Restaurant | Lifetime Achievement Award |