Employee recognition and retention are invaluable elements to the success of hotels and especially during these times, our employees are the heart and soul of our industry. We cannot wait to celebrate those individuals behind the stories of resilience, compassion and dedication they have demonstrated.
IHLA's Stars of the Industry Awards Program was established in 1996 to honor IHLA member hotel employees for their outstanding accomplishments, service and leadership in the hospitality and lodging industry. Illinois has thousands of exceptional hotel and lodging employees who help our visitors enjoy their stay, and the Stars Program recognizes the best of the best, those who truly go above and beyond and whose incredible hard work, dedication, attentiveness, and genuine kindness towards both guests and fellow colleagues is an inspiration to their peers.
Each year, a dedicated team of judges review hundreds of nominations to select the star finalists and winners of the award categories listed below. Our members then gather as an industry to recognize these exceptional individuals who best represent the service and spirit of our lodging industry in Illinois.
In 2021, top regional finalists and state winners will be announced at the State Stars of the Industry & Annual Membership Holiday Luncheonon December 15 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel. In addition to the 12 individual employee categories, awards will be presented for IHLA Member of the Year and hotel property awards for Community Service and Good Earthkeeping.
Participating in Stars of the Industry We encourage all of our members to participate in this high profile employee recognition program; to nominate and show appreciation for their outstanding team members and give them the opportunity to be recognized by their peers at an entertaining celebration they will never forget. There is no cost to nominate an IHLA hotel member employee.
Recognition All nominees will be listed on our IHLA website and in the Stars Program and will receive an IHLA 2021 Stars of the Industry Recognition Certificate. New hotels that nominate employees for the first time will receive special recognition in the Stars Program. It is IHLA's privilege to celebrate the accomplishments of all the nominees, finalists, and winners presented each year.
To submit nominations, check back here for the opening of the portal in July. The process is easy! Complete the online form AND submit completed 2021 Stars PDF Nomination along with one additional page explaining why the nominee deserves the award. Additional supporting materials may include two individual documents such as testimonial letters, guest comment cards, or digital pictures of nominees in action. Please upload supporting materials as ONE PDF. Nominees must have worked a minimum of one year in the hotel or lodging industry. Resubmitting updated applications for previous year's nominees is encouraged. Previous winners are not eligible to be nominated again in the same category if they have won a star at the regional or state level within the past three years.
Individual Employee Awards
Hotelier of the Year
Department-Division Head Employee of the Year
Manager of the Year
Administrative Employee of the Year
Bell Staff Employee of the Year
First-Level Supervisor Employee of the Year
Food & Beverage Employee of the Year - Front of the House
Food & Beverage Employee of the Year - Heart of the House
For questions about the Stars of the Industry Program, contact: Jennifer Chase Managing Director, Events JChase@IllinoisHotels.org | 312-346-3135 x222
