Award of Excellence
Submit Your Nominations Below!
The 20th Annual Hospitality on Parade (HOP) Awards Celebration will be held on Friday, November 20, 2026, at the Hilton Americas–Houston.
Join us as we celebrate two decades of recognizing the outstanding professionals who define hospitality excellence in Greater Houston. Since its inception in 2005, the Hospitality on Parade Awards have recognized more than 165 outstanding hospitality professionals and organizations for their dedication, leadership, and commitment to excellence within our industry.
To better recognize the diverse talents that contribute to our profession, the 2026 awards program has expanded to 15 award categories, including several new leadership and management categories.
Nomination Categories and Sub-category Examples
- Administrative
Example: Accountant, Executive Assistant, Income Auditor, Purchasing Agent, Operations Employee, Human Resources Assistant, Human Resources Coordinator, Payroll Administrator - Administrative Director or Manager
Example: Human Resources Manager, Director of Loss Prevention, Revenue Manager, IT Manager - Food & Beverage Front of the House
Example: Server, Bartender, Room Service Attendant, Host/Hostess, Cashier, Busser, Banquet Employee - Food & Beverage Heart of the House
Example: Baker, Pastry Chef, Cook, Cafeteria Employee, Bar Back, Butcher, Steward, Dishwasher - Food & Beverage Director or Manager
Example: Director of Food & Beverage, Restaurant Manager, Banquet Manager, Coffee Bar Manager, Kitchen Manager, Executive Chef, Chef de Cuisine, Executive Sous Chef, Sous Chef, Director of Outlets - Front of the House Guest Services
Example: Bell Attendant, Driver, Front Desk Agent, Valet Attendant, Butler, Rooms Controller, Concierge/Guest Experience, Reservations Agent - Front of the House Director or Manager
Example: Front Office Manager, Guest Services Manager, Director of Rooms, Assistant General Manager, Chief Concierge, Valet Manager - Heart of the House
Example: Loss Prevention/Security Officer, Investigator, Housekeeper, Room Attendant, Linen Room Attendant, Laundry Attendant, Floor Attendant, Seamstress, Public Area Attendant, Engineer, Maintenance Employee - Heart of the House Director or Manager
Example: Director of Operations, Executive Housekeeper, Housekeeping Manager, Engineering Manager, Director of Facilities, Chief Engineer - Sales & Marketing
Example: Sales Coordinator, Sales Manager, Senior Sales Manager, Marketing Manager, Director of Sales, Director of Marketing - Events, Convention Services, & Event Technology
Example: Catering Coordinator, Event Planner, Convention Services Manager, Director of Event Planning, A/V Tech, A/V Manager - General Manager of the Year – Full Service
Example: Hotel Manager, General Manager, Managing Director, Dual General Manager - General Manager of the Year – Select Service
Example: Hotel Manager, General Manager, Managing Director, Dual General Manager - Allied Partner of the Year
- Houston Spirit Award
Nomination Guidelines & Frequently Asked Questions
The 20th Annual Hospitality on Parade (HOP) Awards Celebration will be held on Friday, November 20, 2026, at the Hilton Americas–Houston.
Each hotel or company may submit only one (1) nomination per award category.
If you have questions regarding the most appropriate category for your nominee, please contact Stephanie Haynes at shaynes@houstonhotels.org or 713-853-8958 before submitting your nomination.
Please note: All nominations must be submitted electronically through the online nomination portal. This document is provided for reference only.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to be nominated?
All nominees and organizations must be current members of the Hotel & Lodging Association of Greater Houston (HLAGH). To verify membership status, please call 713-853-8958.
How many individuals may we nominate?
Each hotel or company may submit one (1) nominee per category.
Individuals who have received a Hospitality on Parade Award within the past three (3) years are not eligible for nomination in the same award cycle.
What if more than one nomination is submitted in the same category?
If more than one nomination is submitted by the same organization in a single category, only the first completed submission received will be accepted. Any additional submissions in that category will not be considered.
Are emailed nominations accepted?
No. Only nominations submitted through the official online nomination portal will be accepted. A separate online submission is required for each nominee.
May contract employees be nominated?
Yes. Contract employees are eligible provided they are nominated by the hotel where they provide services. The nomination will count as that hotel’s one nomination for the applicable category.
What is the nomination deadline?
All nominations must be submitted no later than Monday, August 31, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
Nomination Instructions
- Complete the online nomination form for each nominee.
- Hotels and companies may submit nominations in multiple categories; however, only one (1) nomination per category will be accepted. We encourage you to nominate your strongest candidate in each category.
- Individual nominees must be employed by their current organization for a minimum of one year and be in good standing at the time of nomination.
- The judging process is conducted anonymously. Judges do not receive the nominee’s name, employer, or identifying information. To ensure fairness, please do not reference your hotel’s name, brand, management company, or any identifying information within your narrative responses
- Judges evaluate each submission solely on the information provided. Well-written, specific, and measurable examples of achievement will significantly strengthen your nomination.
- All nominees and organizations must be current HLAGH members. To verify membership or join the Association, contact shaynes@houstonhotels.org or 713-853-8958.
- All nominations must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, August 31, 2026. Late submissions cannot be accepted.
- Finalists will be notified in early October 2026. Award recipients will be announced during the 20th Annual Hospitality on Parade Awards Celebration on Friday, November 20, 2026.
Tips for Preparing a Strong Nomination
The strongest nominations are specific, authentic, and supported by real examples. Keep the following tips in mind:
- Be specific. Include concrete examples of the nominee’s accomplishments rather than general statements. Explain what they did, why it mattered, and the results achieved.
- Answer each question completely. Avoid repeating the same information in multiple sections. Use each question to highlight a different aspect of the nominee’s accomplishments.
- Write from personal knowledge. The most compelling nominations reflect firsthand experiences and provide meaningful examples that demonstrate why the nominee deserves recognition.
- Use AI as a tool, not as the author. Artificial intelligence can be helpful for organizing ideas, improving grammar, and polishing your writing. However, nominations generated primarily by AI often sound generic, repetitive, and lack the specific details judges are looking for. The strongest nominations combine your firsthand knowledge with thoughtful editing to tell your nominee’s unique story. Judges review dozens of nominations. Because judges review dozens of nominations, submissions that rely heavily on AI often sound similar in tone, wording, and structure. Personalized nominations with authentic examples consistently stand out and receive stronger evaluations. .
- Use measurable results and meaningful examples whenever possible. Statistics, guest satisfaction scores, revenue growth, cost savings, employee retention, successful initiatives, awards, and other quantifiable achievements help judges understand the nominee’s impact. Equally important are guest comments, client testimonials, employee feedback, and specific examples that illustrate how the nominee made a difference. The strongest nominations combine measurable results with authentic stories that bring the nominee’s accomplishments to life.
- Proofread before submitting. A well-organized, concise, and error-free nomination makes it easier for judges to evaluate your nominee’s accomplishments.
- For the GM Awards, General Manager nominations are strengthened by measurable operational results whenever possible. Examples include occupancy, ADR, RevPAR, guest satisfaction, employee engagement and retention, safety metrics, cost savings, successful renovations or openings, crisis management, and community impact.
Nominations:
Judges evaluate each nomination solely on the information submitted. Strong, detailed responses supported by specific examples and measurable outcomes will score more favorably than general statements.
