Atlanta – The Georgia Restaurant Association (GRA) is now accepting nominations for the 9th Annual Georgia Restaurant Association Crystal of Excellence (GRACE) Awards®, which recognize hospitality and foodservice professionals for excellence and achievement in their fields. All award finalists are peer-nominated and this year’s gala will feature new award categories to honor the various individuals that contribute to the success of the restaurant industry.
In the past, the GRACE Awards® have paid tribute to some of Georgia’s most influential individuals in the industry including S. Truett Cathy, George McKerrow and Ted Turner, just to name a few. This year, in addition to the Distinguished Service, Industry Partner and Lifetime Achievement awards, the Restaurateur of the Year award will feature three separate categories including small/independent, franchisee and large/corporate to ensure that all restaurant types are honored. Additionally, the GRA will be honoring individuals in the following categories: Culinary/Hospitality Student of the Year, Manager of the Year and Restaurant Employee of the Year (front-and-back of the house employees).
“The GRA is proud to host an annual gala that continues to honor the most deserving in our industry and pay tribute to those individuals that help Georgia’s restaurants thrive,” said GRA Executive Director Karen Bremer. “Now in its ninth year, the GRACE Awards® Gala continues to grow each year and is a great camaraderie of past honorees. The industry really enjoys coming together to celebrate all that Georgia’s restaurants have accomplished.”
The GRACE Awards® is a great way to recognize and pay tribute to the leaders who have made outstanding contributions to Georgia's restaurant industry. In addition to a cocktail reception with signature drinks and a three-course dinner, the gala will feature live musical entertainment and announce the 2015 winners.
To ensure the GRA honors the most deserving of the restaurant industry, we open the nomination process to the public for a chance to nominate industry peers, a boss and/or co-workers. The winners will be announced November 1, 2015 at the GRACE Awards® Gala to be held at The Foundry at Puritan Mill in Atlanta. To nominate a worthy individual for one of these prestigious awards, visit www.garestaurants.org/nominations. To learn more about the GRACE Awards®, or to view the award criteria for the various categories, visit www.garestaurants.org/grace-awards-gala. All nominations are due by May 29, 2015.
About the Georgia Restaurant Association
The GRA’s mission is to serve as the voice for Georgia’s restaurants in advocacy, education and awareness. The GRA is sanctioned by the National Restaurant Association to operate Georgia’s only not-for-profit representing the state’s foodservice industry. The GRA serves as the unified voice for over 16,000 foodservice and drinking places in the state of Georgia with total sales in excess of $17.1 billion which provides more than 421,800 jobs. From large chains to start-ups, the GRA helps make Georgia a better place for restaurants to do business and helps make restaurants better for Georgia.
About the GRACE Awards®
Established in 2007, the GRACE Awards® is the Georgia Restaurant Association’s annual black-tie gala event honoring Georgia’s Restaurant Industry. The GRACE awards are peer-nominated and honor the top finalists in the following categories: Restaurateur of the Year, Industry Partner of the Year, Distinguished Service Award, Culinary Student of the Year, Manager of the Year, FOH Employee of the Year, BOH Employee of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Award. The winners are announced at the event, and are presented with crystal works of art created by renowned local artist Hans-Godo Frabel. A portion of the proceeds from this event will go to benefit the Atlanta Community Food Bank.
For more information, ticket reservations, and/or sponsorship opportunities, visit www.garestaurants.org/grace-awards-gala. For media inquiries, please contact Rachel Bell, marketing and communications manager, at (404) 467-9000 or rachel@garestaurants.org.
Source: Georgia Restaurant Association