Travel Paso opens nominations for Hospitality and Tourism Awards
Awards will be presented at May 7 Tourism Round-Up
– Travel Paso is accepting nominations for the 2026 Hospitality and Tourism Awards, which will be presented during the third annual Tourism Round-Up on Thursday, May 7.
The Tourism Round-Up will bring together members of the local tourism and hospitality community to recognize individuals, teams, and businesses for their contributions to hospitality, teamwork, guest experience, and service in Paso Robles. Award recipients will be announced during the event, which will also include networking, collaboration, education, and industry discussions throughout the day.
Travel Paso stated that its vision focuses on fostering a welcoming community with experiences for both visitors and residents, supported by the collective work of the local tourism and hospitality sector.
The 2026 Hospitality and Tourism Awards will be presented in four categories. The Emerging Hospitality Leader award recognizes an individual with one to five years of experience in the hospitality industry who demonstrates customer service skills and leadership potential. The Tourism Champion award honors an individual, team, or business that shows active engagement as a tourism partner and promotes the region beyond standard expectations. The Visitor Experience award recognizes an individual, team, or business that delivers guest experiences in lodging, restaurants, wineries, or other hospitality-related businesses. The Distinguished Leader award is selected by the Travel Paso Board of Directors and recognizes a lifetime of service to hospitality and tourism. This award may be presented posthumously.
Nominations are open from Jan. 6 through March 6. Completed nomination forms must be submitted by the deadline, and late submissions will not be considered. Nomination forms are available through the Travel Paso website.
The 2025 Hospitality Award recipients were Ken Hunter and Bobbi Hunter, Rich Verruni, Lynette Sonne, Brenda Jesmery Alcaraz, Carole MacDonal, and Cris Cherry.
Additional details about the Tourism Round-Up will be announced in the coming months. Travel Paso invited members of the tourism and hospitality community to save the date and participate in the event.
