Public voting to begin for ROSE Awards honoring hospitality, tourism employees 

When the pandemic hit, the hospitality industry took a big hit — and it has taken time to come back from that. But one thing is certain: employees working in this sector have been resilient and have served visitors with enthusiasm and exemplary service.

The Boise Convention & Visitors Bureau is participating in the Recognition of Service Excellence (ROSE) Awards celebration. The awards honor exceptional employees in the hospitality and tourism industries who go above and beyond to provide great visitor experiences.  

“Many businesses are still short-staffed, so employees are working harder than ever to make Idaho a great place to live and visit,” said Carrie Westergard, executive director of Visit Boise. “With that said, our industry has recovered quite nicely in Idaho. We are up 9% in passenger travel from 2019 numbers with almost 4.5 million travelers. These awards are important because the hospitality employees are the first point of reference for a lot of visitors (coming) to the area for the very first time or as a repeat guest, and (they) give visitors their first impression of Boise. We want to elevate and recognize those who are doing their jobs exceptionally well and carry that forward.” 

In mid-February, judges selected three finalists for each category of the awards, which include accommodations/lodging, dining/caterers, bar/tasting room, behind the scenes, retail, volunteer, attractions, transportation and manager of the year. There will also be a “spirit of hospitality” award open to top-level managers or owners, which recognizes those that are working to better their communities, organization or industry. New in 2023 is the “community impact award,” which will recognize a member of the hospitality community who has made significant community impact. Public voting runs March 8-22. 

The ROSE Awards celebration event, which is sponsored by Albertsons, Boise Airport, Boise Centre and Idaho Power, is scheduled to take place 6-9 p.m. April 5 at the Morrison Center in Boise.    

“We love hearing and sharing the incredible stories behind all the individuals doing exceptional work in the hospitality industry in Idaho,” Westergard said. “The hospitality industry is the third-largest industry in Idaho and creates significant economic impact. Highlighting those who are offering exceptional customer service not only helps their own morale but showcases the way we want to show up in the world for each other and to all our visitors.”