Vermont Chamber of Commerce

Awards and Events

Nominations Open for the 2011 Hospitality Awards

Click Here to nominate for any of the following awards:

Borden E. Avery Inkeeper of the Year
B&B Innkeeper of the Year
Chef of the Year
Restaurateur of the Year
Allied Member of the Year 

Hospitality Gala will be held Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at Woodstock Inn in Woodstock, Vermont. 

2010 Vermont Chamber Hospitality Award Winners

Borden E. Avery Innkeeper of the Year: Jim Glanville, The Essex Resort & Spa in Essex. This award is the Vermont hospitality industry's most prestigious award, designed for individuals who have held long time, high profile positions in the state's tourism industry. While creating a new Vermont visitor destination, Glanville has led the renaissance of The Essex through a comprehensive rebranding project and the development of a broad range of upscale activities and amenities, all the while maintaining a commitment to hands-on management of a team of 180 professionals. Glanville also is a community leader, and advocates on behalf of Vermont tourism as a whole.

B&B Innkeeper of the Year: David Kanal and George DeFina, Deer Brook Inn in Woodstock.  This award is designed for individuals who continue to demonstrate excellence in the operation and management of a smaller Vermont bed & breakfast or inn.  Kanal and DeFina's emphasis on encouraging all employees to give extraordinary customer service make the inn exceptional. Their principles of putting forth a warm welcome, providing information and being accessible as owners, offering top-notch housekeeping, and phenomenal breakfasts make the Deer Brook Inn an award-winning destination.

Chef of the Year: Chef Amy Chamberlain, The Perfect Wife in Manchester.  This award is designed for an individual with a proven history of supporting Vermont's agricultural economy through the use of local food and products. The Chef of the Year also donates time or services to the community at large through the operation and management of a restaurant in Vermont.  Chef Amy Chamberlain celebrates local and organic products with her culinary creations, hosts events to promote local agricultural partnerships, and serves and identifies local foods with integrity and excitement. Chef Amy also hosts community fundraisers, and facilitates composting on local farms through the donation of restaurant food scraps.

Restaurateur of the Year: Eric Warnstedt, Hen of the Wood in Waterbury.  This award is designed for an individual who continues to demonstrate excellence in the operation and management of a restaurant in Vermont.  Warnstedt created in the Hen of the Woods a warm, inviting atmosphere, a historic and visually appealing setting, and seamless service. The Hen of the Wood is a culinary destination, featuring outstanding wine and beautiful food created with products from many Vermont farms.

Allied Member of the Year: John Crabbe, Vermont Tent Company in South Burlington. This award is designed for an individual who goes above and beyond in offering a service that supports the hospitality industry in Vermont.  Crabbe's recognition of employees as a critical element of the company's success, "team training" approach, and personal leadership both within and outside the company create an atmosphere of loyalty and support. His dedication to service, respect for people, interest in legislative affairs, and responsiveness to the needs of the community make the Vermont Tent Company an exceptional business.

 

Top Ten Events contests for Summer, Fall, and Winter (to see the current Top Ten Events, click HERE)

Apply to be a Top Ten Event - Application Deadline has passed.

Application Deadline for the Summer and Fall 2011 Top Ten Event has passed. Stay tuned for deadlines and applications for the 2012 awards.

Is your event a contender for the Top Ten List?  Your event qualifies if it is:

  • open to the public
  • appeals to out-of-state visitors and
  • attracts a large and diverse audience (including children).

The events submitted must occur between the following time frames.

Top Ten Winter: November 1 - March 31

Top Ten Summer: April 1 - August 31

Top Ten Fall: September 1 - October 31

An independent panel of judges considers criteria such as:

  • Size and past audience of the event and room for growth within the event.
  • Complete and timely application by the event coordinator.
  • Geographic and seasonal date distribution relative to other events. 
  • Top Ten award winners are chosen to represent, as a whole, the variety of experiences that define Vermont, such as celebrations of arts, history, agriculture, gardening, community, recreation, and so on..

Winners have access to the signature Top Ten logo, as well as additional marketing opportunities. Certificates are awarded to ten winners in each seasonal category.  Top Ten contest winners, their descriptions, and photos, are prominently featured in the Vermont Winter Vacation Guide (circulation 100,000) or the Vermont Vacation Guide for Summer/Fall (circulation 200,000).  Published by the Vermont Chamber Hospitality Committee, these guides are the official travel guides of the State of Vermont, fulfilling all inquiries to 1-800-VERMONT and the website of the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing, www.vermontvacation.com.

Top Ten winners also appear on the Vermont Chamber's highly visited online events calendar at www.visitvt.com and in the Vermont Chamber’s Country Inns and B & Bs brochure.

Questions: Email Karen Foote or call her at 802-223-3443.

Events 

The Vermont Chamber Hospitality Committee hosts two premier events annually to help promote and support the growth of the hospitality industry: The Taste of Vermont Legislative Reception and the Vermont Hospitality Gala.