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SDCLA Gold Key Awards - Categories

Nominations MUST BE SUBMITTED NO LATER THAN 5PM, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2026. Please contact us with any questions regarding the appropriate category for a nominee, 619-678-1195 or info@lodgingsd.com. Please note that judging/review process is confidential. Nominees and award recipients will not be notified of who submitted them.

We are also asking for optional, personal nomination videos, between 30-60 seconds that can be shared at the event and on social media. These videos provide a special opportunity to highlight the dedication and excellence of your team members.
 

NOMINATION CRITERIA

Hotel Community Honorees:

Each hotel may nominate one exemplary employee per category that meets the following overall criteria:

  • Excellence in Job Performance: Consistently demonstrates outstanding skills, knowledge, and dedication in their role. This includes maintaining high standards of quality, efficiency, and professionalism.
  • Customer Service: Provides exceptional service to guests, ensuring their needs are met and expectations are exceeded. This includes displaying a positive attitude, responsiveness, and a commitment to guest satisfaction.
  • Team Collaboration: Exhibits strong teamwork and cooperation with colleagues. Contributes to a positive and productive work environment through effective communication, support, and collaboration.
  • Innovation and Improvement: Shows initiative in identifying opportunities for improvement and implementing innovative solutions. This includes enhancing processes, services, or overall guest experience.
  • Commitment to Safety and Compliance: Adheres to all safety protocols and regulatory requirements. Promotes a culture of safety and ensures compliance with hotel policies and industry standards.

A description of the eight categories include:

  • Housekeeping: Recognizes excellence in housekeeping, honoring dedication, attention to detail and a commitment to creating an exceptional guest experience.
  • Guest Services: Goes above and beyond to make guests feel special and welcomed and help out their fellow employees.
  • Food & Beverage – Front of House:  Recognizes excellence in front-of-house service, highlighting outstanding hospitality, professionalism, and guest experience in food and beverage operations.
  • Food & Beverage –"Heart of House": Honors behind the scenes talent, celebrating culinary skill, teamwork, and operational excellence that drives a memorable guest experience.
  • Sales, Marketing & Revenue Management: Celebrates outstanding achievements in sales, marketing and revenue management, recognizing strategies that drive business growth and enhancing guest engagement.
  • Engineering & Security: Honors excellence in engineering and security, recognizing individuals who ensure a safe and seamless experience for every guest.
  • Accounting & Finance: Recognizes outstanding performance in accounting and finance, honoring accuracy, efficiency, and strategic management.
  • Human Resources: Celebrates dedication to fostering a supportive workplace, cultivating talent, and enhancing employee experience.

You can learn more about each honoree category here.

San Diego Community Awards:

Each member may nominate a candidate the makes an impact beyond the hotel property. Award categories include the following criteria:

  • Patti Roscoe Award - Allied Person of the Year: An individual who isn’t directly employed by a lodging establishment, but who makes a big difference in the industry and the lives of those around them! Nominee should be someone who is affiliated with the Tourism Industry but does not work for a lodging establishment.
  • Good Earthkeeping Award: This award recognizes lodging properties that have developed a culture toward integrating environmental management practices that improve everyday operations and the bottom line while maintaining quality service and meeting guest expectations. The program must demonstrate success in one or more of the following areas:
    • Energy conservation (participation in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program)
    • Solid waste reduction
    • Effluents and emissions
    • Water conservation
    • Purchasing
    • Business issues (guest demands, community issues, land use and development, training, and policy).
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award: This award recognizes a hotel that embodies an inclusive work culture, through training, programs and policies that promote the representation of different groups of individuals with impartiality and fairness. Nominees are judged on programs for existing and new employees that showcase best DEI practices and programs.
  • Hotel Leader of the Year: This award recognizes an executive who has demonstrated excellence in leadership, service, and community involvement. Nominees are evaluated on their delivery of exceptional service to their property, guests, and fellow associates, as well as their contributions to strengthening connections between the hotel and the local community. These contributions may include meaningful partnerships, volunteerism, and outreach initiatives that create a positive and lasting impact while supporting the community’s social and economic well-being. Eligible nominees must be a Director, Owner, Regional Manager, or General Manager of a lodging establishment.
  • Gold Key Award: First presented in 1982, the Gold Key Award is meant to honor an individual who does not work directly in hospitality or tourism but who truly embodies the spirit of the industry and makes a difference every day. This individual goes above and beyond to find innovative ways to make outstanding contributions on a continuing basis to the betterment of the industry. The Gold Key Award is designed for someone who is not employed in the visitor industry.