Gold Key Awards
The Gold Key Awards celebrate the truly exceptional professionals that exemplify the very best of the San Diego hospitality and tourism industry.
It is again time for us to honor those who have made significant contributions to the betterment of our industry during the past year.
Nominations are now open!
Nominate the stars on your team and let them know how much you value the passion and talent they bring to work each day. Awards will be presented in the following ten categories. Click here to learn more about each category. This year’s categories are listed below.
- Food and Beverage Associate of the Year
- Guest Service Associate of the Year
- Heart of the House Associate of the Year
- Hotel Executive of the Year
- Hotel Manager of the Year
- Patti Roscoe Award–Allied Person of the Year
- Sales Professional of the Year
- Gold Key Award
- Good Earthkeeping Property Award
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Property Award
The period covered by the nomination is January 2024 to present. Hotels may be required to join the appropriate association in order to be entered. Nominations will be judged by the top elected officers of the participating organizations and MUST BE SUBMITTED NO LATER THAN NOON, January 24, 2025 at 5:00pm PT.
Please contact the SDCLA office at info@lodgingsd.com or 619.678.1195 with any questions.
Event Policies & Registration
Event reservations are required by Friday, February 21, 2025.
No refunds will be issued for cancelled reservations.
RESERVATIONS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR AND SPACE IS LIMITED.
For questions or to make changes to your registration, please contact us at info@lodgingsd.com
We are also offering our members exclusive opportunities to become a Gold Key Awards sponsor! As a featured Gold Key Sponsor, your company would be prominently featured in front of a large crowd of industry leading professionals and influential decision makers, as well as present on of our awards!
Please contact the SDCLA office at info@lodgingsd.com or 619.678.1195 with any questions.
We appreciate the support of the following organizations:
- Hospitality Human Resources Group
- Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International San Diego
- Meeting Professionals International
- National Association of Catering & Events
- San Diego Concierge Association
- San Diego Tourism Authority
Congratulations to the 44th Annual Gold Key Award Winners!
SDCLA and The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International San Diego honored twelve hospitality professionals that exemplify the very best of the San Diego hospitality industry at our annual Gold Key Awards Event on Thursday, February 15, 2024.
44th Annual Gold Key Award Winners:
Pattie Roscoe – Allied Person of the Year Award:
Allie Asuncion, San Diego Tourism Authority
Food and Beverage Associate of the Year:
Cecilia “Ceci” Almazar, Omni San Diego Hotel
Heart of the House Associate of the Year:
Juanita Aparis, Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego
Guest Service Associate of the Year:
Diana Sanchez, The Lodge At Torrey Pines
Sales Associate of the Year:
Darlene Larson, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
Hotel Manager of the Year:
Priscilla Reyes, Omni San Diego Hotel
Hotel Executive of the Year:
Bess Miller, Courtyard San Diego Downtown
Good Earthkeeping Award:
Evans Hotels
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award:
Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego
Gold Key Award:
Councilmember Stephen Whitburn, City of San Diego
HSMAI SD James V. Cunningham Personalized Service Award:
Claudia Ludlow, Glorietta Bay Inn
HSMAI SD Revenue Manager of the Year:
Justin Hulet, Sycuan Casino Resort
To learn more about the event and each of this year’s winners, click here.
Thank you to our Gold Key Event Sponsor, Evans Hotels!
Tribute to Hospitality Icon, Terry Brown
A message from Mayor Todd Gloria to Gold Key Attendees
TAKE A LOOK AT THE 2023 EVENT
The 43rd Gold Key Awards presentation, co-hosted by the San Diego County Lodging Association and the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI San Diego), were held on February 23, 2023, at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina. Ten hospitality professionals, who exemplify the very best of San Diego County’s hotel community, were presented Gold Key Awards before a gala audience of hotel, political and business leaders.
We would like to take this opportunity to recognize and congratulate all of our exceptional winners:
Pattie Roscoe – Allied Person of the Year Award: Christina Jeffries, San Diego State University
Food and Beverage Associate of the Year: Francisco “Chico” Montanez, Bahia Resort Hotel
Heart of the House Associate of the Year: Raquel Reyes, The Lodge at Torrey Pines
Guest Service Associate of the Year: Kimberly Hawes, Loews Coronado Bay Resort
Sales Associate of the Year: Logan Webster, Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego
Hotel Manager of the Year: Charles McCay, Omni San Diego Hotel
Hotel Executive of the Year: Diane Koczur, Evans Hotels
Gold Key Award: Holiday Bowl-Sports San Diego
HSMAI SD James V. Cunningham Personalized Service Award: Giselle Guzman, Flagship Cruises & Events
HSMAI SD Revenue Manager of the Year: Charles Rullan, Hotel del Coronado
Take a look the 2023 year’s event:
CBS 8 – San Diego County Lodging Association hands out Gold Key Awards
Click here for more information about this 2023 event and winners.