DAYTONA BEACH – Today, more than 150 hospitality professionals and industry leaders gathered at Daytona State College for the inaugural Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) Volusia Chapter ROSE Awards ceremony, which honored exceptional individuals whose dedication and service help shape Volusia County’s hospitality industry. Scholarships were also awarded to six local hospitality students during the event.
The ROSE (Recognition of Service Excellence) Awards honor frontline hospitality team members across the region. This year’s event boasted nearly 50 nominees across 13 categories, and more than a dozen team members were honored with the coveted ROSE Award. From housekeeping and front desk staff to valets and chefs, every single position in hospitality is critical to the success of the business in providing superior guest experiences. The winners each received their award, the coveted ROSE Award pin, and recognition from industry peers and leadership.
“It was incredibly meaningful to bring our hospitality community together to celebrate the people who make our industry so special,” said Destiny Neves, Volusia Chapter Regional Director for FRLA and the event’s organizer. “The ceremony was a powerful reminder of the talent, dedication, and heart that exists throughout Volusia County’s hospitality industry. We are proud to recognize the outstanding professionals who were honored and grateful to everyone who helped make this event possible. We are thrilled with the response to our inaugural ROSE Awards and look forward to continuing this tradition and honoring even more hospitality stars in the years ahead.”
“We are so proud to bring the ROSE Awards to Volusia County for the first time and celebrate the hospitality professionals who go above and beyond for our guests,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. “Hospitality is built by people who show up every day with skill, commitment, and a genuine desire to take care of others. Their work has a direct impact on making Florida a leading destination for travelers from around the world. Ours is the best industry in the state, and these ROSE Awards are a wonderful opportunity to recognize the outstanding individuals who strengthen Florida’s hospitality industry.”
The 2026 Volusia ROSE Award winners are:
Back of House Employee of the Year: Jaruse Williams, Renaissance Daytona Beach Resort
Bartender of the Year: Khalid “Ben” Benjaafar, Holiday Inn & Suites Daytona Beach on the Ocean
Chef of the Year: Mary Helen “Helen” Porter, Hilton Garden Inn Daytona Beach Oceanfront
Banquet Employee of the Year: Daniel Burns, Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach
Valet Employee of the Year: David Chaimberlain, PMC Hard Rock
Front Desk Employee of the Year: Michelle Jaillet, The Shores Resort and Spa
Housekeeping Employee of the Year: Donna Delucia, Holiday Inn & Suites Daytona Beach on the Ocean
Breakfast Attendant of the Year: Betty Shepherd, Hampton Inn & Suites Deland
Engineering Employee of the Year: Robert “Bobby” Rowley, Best Western Plus Daytona Inn Seabreeze
Restaurant Host of the Year: Jaedyn Kochanowski, Renaissance Daytona Beach Oceanfront Hotel
Hospitality Employee of the Year: Heike Rampersad, Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort
Hospitality Leader of the Year: Lynn Flanders, Ocean Center
Bob Davis Legacy Award*: Domien Takx, Premier Resorts & Management
*The Bob Davis Legacy Award honors the late Bob Davis, longtime President of the Lodging and Hospitality Association of Volusia County (LHAVC), and recognizes an individual whose dedication, leadership, and service have made a lasting impact on our hospitality community.
The 2026 FRLA Volusia Chapter Scholarship Recipients are:
Edward Whitney, Daytona State College
Kali Cluck, Daytona State College
Tabitha Gibson, Daytona State College
Makayla Woods, Bethune-Cookman University
Roger Leonard Carnegie, Bethune-Cookman University
Shamily Johnson, Bethune-Cookman University
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.
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