New York City Hospitality Alliance Announces First-Annual Awards Event This May

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Honoring Restaurants, Bars, Nightlife Establishments, and Hospitality Professionals Throughout New York City’s Five Boroughs


This May, the New York City Hospitality Alliance, a membership-based association founded in 2012 that aims to foster the growth and vitality of the hospitality industry, will host its inaugural awards ceremony at the iconic Marquee nightclub in Manhattan. The event, which takes place on Tuesday, May 10th from 6:30PM to 10:00PM, will showcase the cuisine, cocktails and culture that define New York City, and will honor restaurants, bars, nightlife establishments, and professionals throughout the five boroughs that have made an impact on the city’s booming hospitality industry.

“We have over 20,000 restaurants, bars and nightclubs in New York City – ranging from your favorite mom & pops to the quintessential fine dining institutions, dive bars to velvet-roped hotspots,” says Andrew Rigie, the Executive Director of the New York City Hospitality Alliance. “We are the hospitality capital of the world and we [at the Alliance] are thrilled to recognize, appreciate and celebrate the incredible contributions these people and businesses have made to our industry.”

Members of the “Nomination Committee,” appointed by Rigie, represent a wide-range of hospitality professionals with a wealth of knowledge and experience in New York City’s hospitality industry. Final nominees under each awards category are selected through Committee submission, review and voting.

Award winners are determined by the majority vote submitted by subscribers of the New York City Hospitality Alliance distribution list (*unless otherwise noted), between the voting period of Thursday, April 14th and Thursday, April 28th, and will be announced at the event.

  • Red Gold Sacramento
  • RAK Porcelain
  • Atosa USA
  • BelGioioso Burrata
  • McKee Foodservice
  • Imperial Dade
  • Texas Pete
  • Simplot Frozen Avocado
  • DAVO Sales Tax
  • Inline Plastics Safe-T-Chef
  • RATIONAL USA
  • T&S Brass Eversteel Pre-Rinse Units
  • Day & Nite
  • AyrKing Mixstir

Award categories and nominees include:

Big Apple Legacy Award – Goes to an individual whose success and influence will leave a lasting impact on the NYC hospitality industry
Award Winner: Jeffrey Bank, The Alicart Restaurant Group (Carmine’s & Virgil’s Real Barbecue)

Philanthropy Served Here Award – Goes to a hospitality industry company and charitable organization that work together to make the neighborhoods of NYC a more hospitable place – with a focus on the restaurant industry
Award Winner: fresh&co / Food Education Fund

Next Generation Award – Goes to an up-and-coming or established mover and shaker who is still early in their hospitality industry career *winner will be selected by Judge’s Committee
John Meadow (LDV Hospitality); Joseph Johnson (The Cecil and Minton’s); Deuki Hong (The Circle Hospitality Group)

The Determination Award – Goes to an individual who started at an entry-level job in the hospitality industry and is now in a leadership role *winner will be selected by Judge’s Committee
TBD: Hospitality industry professionals requested to submit up to 250 word submission describing a suggested nominee

Hearts of Hospitality Award presented by Fox Rothschild LLP – Goes to an individual who is recognized for excellence in the profession of human resources in hospitality *winner will be selected by Human Resource Professionals in Hospitality
Angie Buonpane (Union Square Hospitality Group); Susan Spikes (Hill Country Hospitality); Yvonne Mancini (Crafted Hospitality)

Four Stars Award – Goes to a critic/reviewer/writer who has established an industry-following for hospitality news coverage
Ryan Sutton (Eater New York); Mimi Sheraton (formerly of The New York Times, Time, Conde Nast Traveler, Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue); Steve Cuozzo (New York Post)

I❤Hospitality Award – Goes to a favorite restaurant in each borough as chosen by hospitality industry professionals
I❤Brooklyn – Peter Luger; Roberta’s; al di la Trattoria
I❤Bronx – Mike’s Deli; Bronx Alehouse; Roberto’s; Pasquale’s Rigoletto
I❤Manhattan – Katz’s Delicatessen; Gramercy Tavern; Sylvia’s Restaurant, the Queen of Soul Food™; RedFarm
I❤Queens – Taverna Kyclades; Kabab Café; Phayul
I❤Staten Island – Denino’s Pizzeria & Tavern; Lorenzo’s Restaurant, Bar & Cabaret; Ruddy and Dean Steakhouse

True Taste of NYC Award – Goes to an iconic dish served at an iconic NYC restaurant
2nd Ave Deli (Hot Pastrami Sandwich); Totonno Pizzeria Napolitano (Thin-Crust Coal-Oven Pizza); J.G. Melon (Burger)

Nightowl Club Award presented by E.B. Cohen Insurance & Risk Management – Goes to the important and/or influential club and/or operator
Marquee New York; Brooklyn Bowl; Output

Nightowl Bar Award presented by E.B. Cohen Insurance & Risk Management – Goes to the important and/or influential bar and/or owner
Employees Only; 67 Orange Street; Electric Room at Dream Downtown

#HospitalityGuruAward – Goes to the restaurant with the best food Social Media presence – makes you drool, laugh and captures your attention
Joe & Misses Doe; Milk Bar/Christina Tosi; Black Tap Burgers

Hospitality Technology Award – Goes to a technology platform enhancing the way the hospitality industry operates (nominees are members of the Alliance)
ADP; AYC Media; BentoBox; ChefMod; delivery.com; Dine Market; Harri; NCR Aloha; Paycom; Tripleseat; Valiant; Vitabyte POS; Wisely

To purchase tickets, or for more information about the New York City Hospitality Alliance Awards, please visit: https://events.bizzabo.com/allianceawards.

Event Sponsors:
Four Star – E.B. Cohen Insurance & Risk Management; Fox Rothschild LLP
Three Star – BHB Pest Elimination; Citrin Cooperman; CohnReznick; Diageo; Empire Merchants; HGR Group Insurance; Imperial Bag & Paper Co.; MICROS Systems; Paycom; TOMMYROTTER VODKA & GIN; Vero Water; Howard Goldstein, LUTCF (Employee Benefit and Healthcare Reform Specialist, Representative of the Hospitality Health Select planTM)

The inaugural New York City Hospitality Alliance Awards will take place on Tuesday, May 10th, 2016, from 6:30PM to 10:00PM at Marquee New York, located at 289 10th Avenue. General Admission tickets are exclusive to restaurant/nightlife/hotel operators and their families ($250/pp); G/A also offers a larger ticket package ($2,500/10 tickets + digital advertisement); product/service providers must purchase exclusively through Ticket & Sponsor Combo ($1,500/2 tickets + digital advertisement). Dress is cocktail attire. This is a standing room only event with some seating/lounges available for general admission ticket holders. Passed hors d’oeuvres and craft cocktails will be served.


The New York City Hospitality Alliance is a non-profit-trade association representing restaurants and nightlife establishments throughout the five boroughs. Formed in September 2012 by a group of well-noted hospitality operators, The Alliance provides a unified voice for the industry in the halls of government, in the media, and is a one-stop resource for industry-specific advice, education, events and cost-saving services. Through the support and involvement of its members, The Alliance is committed to advancing – with a clear and unified voice – an agenda focused on opportunity, economic investment and job creation.

  • DAVO Sales Tax
  • Inline Plastics Safe-T-Chef
  • Texas Pete
  • McKee Foodservice
  • T&S Brass Eversteel Pre-Rinse Units
  • RATIONAL USA
  • Simplot Frozen Avocado
  • Red Gold Sacramento
  • BelGioioso Burrata
  • Imperial Dade
  • Day & Nite
  • RAK Porcelain
  • Atosa USA
  • AyrKing Mixstir