newmexicohospitalitynm.memberzone.comNew Mexico Hospitality Association

(505) 506-8624 Navigation Home About About Board of Directors Staff Committees Scholarship Fund Become a Member Member Directory Join NMHA Member Information Center (MIC) Events Upcoming Events Conference on Hospitality and Tourism Members Events Advocacy Lodgers Tax Manual 2023 Legislative Tracker COVID-19 RESOURCES Advocacy Strategies/Resources 2022 Legislative Session Recap News Latest News Newsletters Awards Hall of Fame Top HAT Award Winners Contact Careers Member Login Home About About Board of Directors Staff Committees Scholarship Fund Become a Member Member Directory Join NMHA Member Information Center (MIC) Events Upcoming Events Conference on Hospitality and Tourism Members Events Advocacy Lodgers Tax Manual 2023 Legislative Tracker COVID-19 RESOURCES Advocacy Strategies/Resources 2022 Legislative Session Recap News Latest News Newsletters Awards Hall of Fame Top HAT Award Winners Contact Careers Member Login Join NMHA Subscribe to our Email List Member Login TopHAT 2023 Nominations Nominations for the 2023 TopHAT Awards Gala open at noon on September 1! We have added new awards this year, so please take time to review the criteria sheet for specifics before starting your nominations. 2023 Awards Criteria Register Today 2023 Nomination Form Register now for the 2024 Governor’s Conference on Hospitality and Tourism Presented by New Mexico True! May 13, 2024 – May 15, 2024 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Albuquerque Convention Center Albuquerque, NM Governor’s Conference on Hospitality and Tourism – Register Now! 2023 TopHAT Award Winners ▸ Back of House Food & Beverage Chef Lane Warner - Executive Chef, La Fonda on the Plaza Chef Lane Warner’s remarkable 30-year tenure at La Plazuela, La Fonda on the Plaza, has been marked by his unwavering commitment, exceptional leadership, and a dedication that extends far beyond his culinary expertise. As the head of a dynamic team comprising over 100 kitchen and banquet employees, Chef Lane’s contributions have been nothing short of extraordinary. In addition to overseeing one of the busiest venues in the state, this year, Chef Lane took on an additional project at the Old Santa Fe Inn. Chef Lane not only reinvented the kitchen at the Old Santa Fe Inn but did so with the aim of surpassing modern code standards. This achievement is a testament to his unwavering commitment to ensuring that every aspect of his culinary operation meets the highest standards of quality and safety. His 30-year career left an indelible mark on the La Fonda’s dining experience, ensuring that guests continue to enjoy exceptional meals and unforgettable moments for years to come. ▸ Front of House Food & Beverage Nallely Garcia - PM Restaurant Manager, La Plazuela - La Fonda on the Plaza One of the most remarkable aspects of Nallely’s journey at La Fonda has been her rise through the ranks. She has navigated her way from an entry-level position to her current role as the PM Restaurant Manager of La Plazuela, one of the La Fonda flagship dining establishments. Her ascent is a testament to her leadership skills, her dedication to self-improvement, and her commitment to fostering positive working relationships with her colleagues. Nallely’s ability to relate to her fellow workers and empower them to deliver exceptional service is truly commendable. She has not only excelled in her role but has also taken on the responsibility of being a role model for her peers. Her ability to mentor and inspire those around her is a testament to her exceptional leadership qualities and embodies the spirit of New Mexico’s hospitality industry. ▸ Back of House Hospitality Norman Fajardo - Director of Housekeeping, Bishop’s Lodge Norman joined Bishop’s Lodge as the Assistant Director of Housekeeping as part of our opening team. He became the Director of Housekeeping in summer of 2022 and since his promotion, Norman has made significant improvements in procedure; has raised the standards and expectations within his team; and raised the employee engagement and satisfaction scores in his department from a 50 to a 90 within a year. Norman has also developed coaching plans for his managers and supervisors to assist with their career growth and goals. In the past year, Norman has had two internal promotions to supervisor and management roles from his department. He champions his team, and his positive attitude motivates and inspires all of the other leaders at Bishop’s Lodge and is symbolic of the industry standards that the TopHAT awards celebrate. ▸ Front of House Hospitality Tucker West - Assistant Front Office Manager, Bishop’s Lodge Tucker joined the Bishop’s Lodge rooms department as a supervisor as part of a "Manager Development Program" and moved to Santa Fe to begin his career in hospitality. Immediately, Tucker showed great enthusiasm and dedication to both our guests and to his fellow teammates. In March of 2023 the decision was made to promote him to a management position. Since his promotion to assistant manager, Tucker has embraced his leadership role, has been a true asset and brand ambassador for Auberge Resorts, and had a 12 point improvement in guest service scores and a 16% improvement in employee engagement scores. Tucker has been instrumental in the positive changes that have occurred at the front office, and within that team, and the Bishop’s Lodge team is proud to work alongside him. ▸ Best Broadcast Campaign Visit Las Cruces The Real New Mexico In May 2023, Visit Las Cruces rebranded. The new brand draws from the tagline The Real New Mexico” to emphasize the authentic and rugged spirit of the city, and the campaign used a series of four commercials highlighting the people, landscape, innovative industries, and bold flavors of the region. The judges felt this campaign deserved recognition for it’s compelling visual images and it’s diverse market penetration. Congratulations to Visit Las Cruces! ▸ Best Print Campaign TOURISM Santa Fe 2023 Official Santa Fe Visitors Guide For 2023, Tourism Santa Fe decided to produce a re-envisioned, and user-friendly printed and digital annual guide for visitors that would provide them with a tool to plan a specific itinerary tailored to their interests. New content in the 2023 Visitors Guide focused on providing even better guidance for the traveler with: an expanded day trips section with handy drive time references a wholly redesigned Native American spread a clever and playful illustrated guide to preparing for your visit to Santa Fe, and a section that succinctly highlights the top 15 must dos in Santa Fe The new guide impressed the judges with its expanded content and creative additions. Congratulations Tourism Santa Fe! ▸ Best Social Media Visit ABQ New in ABQ The New in ABQ” campaign is an Instagram and TikTok video series spotlighting new businesses that opened in Albuquerque. The New in ABQ” video series highlights the energy of the expanding economy in the form of businesses, especially restaurants, opening in the city, and igniting interest from visitors and locals alike. The New in ABQ” campaign consisted of 20 videos posted on Tik Tok and 17 videos posted to Instagram between August 5, 2022 and June 30, 2023. The 20 videos posted to Tik Tok and the 17 reels posted to Instagram garnered a total of 1,603,032 views and Visit Albuquerque gained 34,352 followers across both platforms. Congratulations to Visit Albuquerque! ▸ Best Digital Campaign There were two winners in the TopHAT Best Digital Campaign Category Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce Heartfelt Connections: New Mexico True Digital Campaign In collaboration with the New Mexico True Cooperative Marketing Program, Clovis used this campaign to showcase their dynamic tourism-facing website where users can explore the Heartfelt Connections and Endless Horizons that await. Clovis’ efforts drove nearly 7 MILLION total impressions with a strong click-through rate above industry benchmarks! With over 30 thousand website sessions and over half a...