2026 Northeast Florida ROSE Award Nominees & Winners
JACKSONVILLE – Last night, approximately 500 people from across the regional hospitality industry gathered at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront for the sold-out 17th Annual ROSE Awards ceremony to honor the stars of the Northeast Florida hospitality community.
A premier event of the Northeast Chapter of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA), the ROSE (Recognition of Service Excellence) Awards honor frontline hospitality workers across the region. Over the years, the ROSE Awards have continued to grow in attendance and participation, with records set this year in both. This year’s event boasted more than 149 nominees from nearly 45 different businesses, and 33 outstanding team members were honored with the coveted ROSE Award.
“At its heart, hospitality is about people taking care of people, and the ROSE Awards give us a chance to shine a light on the individuals who make that happen every single day,” said Nicole Chapman, NE Florida FRLA Regional Director and the event’s creator and organizer. “These honorees represent the warmth, professionalism, and pride that define our region’s visitor experience and keep guests returning year after year.”
Last night’s ROSE Award winners each received an award, the coveted ROSE Award pin, and recognition from industry peers and leadership. Middle managers were also recognized for their commitment and hard work throughout the ceremony.
“Seeing hundreds of industry partners come together to celebrate frontline team members sends a powerful message – service excellence matters, and it deserves recognition,” said Carol Dover, President & CEO of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA). “The ROSE Awards not only applaud outstanding performance, they also inspire the next generation of hospitality professionals to build meaningful, lifelong careers in this dynamic industry.”
The 2026 ROSE Award Winners Are:
Administrative Assistant: Beatriz Aten, Marriott Jacksonville Downtown
Allied Member Spotlight: Teri Scott, St. Johns Food Service
Banquets: Trace McCrory, Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village
Bartender – Hotel: Heather Davis, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island
Bartender – Restaurant: Marc Hartley, Colonial Quarter
Behind The Scenes: Laurel Howell, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island
Culinary Service: Chef/Cook – Hotel: Latoya Harden, Hyatt Regency Jacksonville
Culinary Service: Chef/Cook – Restaurant: Andrew Shierling, Meehan’s Irish Pub
Customer Service – Concierge, Recreation, Spa: Lauren Murkerson, One Ocean Resort & Spa
Customer Service – Event Services: Kerry Weatherhead, Visit Jacksonville
Food & Beverage – Support: Pamela Harris, Marriott Jacksonville Downtown
Guest Service – Country Club: Danny Hughes, Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa
Guest Service – Front Desk, Full-Service Hotel: Deidra Facey, Omni Amelia Island Resort & Spa
Guest Service – Front Desk, Select Service Hotel: Tashay Ingram, Holiday Inn Express St Augustine-Historic
Guest Service – Housekeeping, Full-Service Hotel: Rachel Pascua, Ponte Vedra Inn & Club
Guest Service – Housekeeping, Select Service Hotel: Zomaira Martinez, Seahorse Oceanfront Inn
Guest Service – Laundry: Weundy Erazo, Residence Inn Jacksonville Mayo Clinic Area
Guest Service – Maintenance/Engineer: Zlatko Viden, Comfort Suites Baymeadows
Guest Service – Security: Sam Harty, Casa Monica Resort & Spa
Guest Service – Valet/Bell Attendant: Robert Pike, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island
Server – Hotel-Breakfast Attendant: Maria Pons, Holiday Inn Express – Jacksonville Beach
Server – Restaurant, Casual Dining: Brady Walker, Meehan’s Irish Pub
Server – Restaurant, Fine Dining: Slim James Allen, The River Club
Server – Restaurant, Hotel: Izabella Monteiro, Casa Monica Resort and Spa
Server – Restaurant, Quick Service: Linda Rae, Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort and Spa
Transportation – Airport, Ground & Water: Cheryl Miller & Cedric Corse, Omni Amelia Island Resort & Spa
Beyond the Call of Duty: Jacky Crandall, DoubleTree by Hilton Jacksonville Airport
Beyond the Call of Duty: Debbie Wasloski, Epping Forest Yacht & Country Club
Beyond the Call of Duty: Jonathan Bryan, Cassio Dal Mas & Brianna Del Negro, The Lodge & Club
Beyond the Call of Duty: Andrew Mason, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island
Beyond the Call of Duty: Diamond Bouyer, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island
Beyond the Call of Duty: Noah Laster, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island
Beyond the Call of Duty- Lakisha Durham, Marriott Jacksonville Downtown
About FRLA: The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Founded in 1946 as the Florida Restaurant Association, FRLA merged with the Florida Hotel and Motel Association in 2006. FRLA’s more than 10,000 members include independent hoteliers and restaurateurs, household name franchises, theme parks and suppliers. The association’s mission is to protect, educate, and promote Florida’s nearly $112 billion hospitality industry which represents two million employees. Dedicated to safeguarding the needs of the membership, FRLA provides legislative advocacy to ensure the voices of its members are heard and their interests are protected. The association offers regulatory compliance and food safety training through Safe Staff® and FRLA’s subsidiary, RCS Training. The FRLA Educational Foundation provides industry-developed, career-building high school programs throughout the state.