COLUMBIA, SC, Feb. 19, 2019 – The South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association (SCRLA) honored the best of the industry at the annual Stars of South Carolina Hospitality Awards. The winners were recognized at a ceremony on February 18th at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Columbia – Greystone. The awards program celebrates businesses and industry professionals who go above and beyond each and every day.
“From lending a helping hand during times of disaster to being the bright spot in guests’ mornings, this year’s winners truly exemplify the highest standards of hospitality and shine on the job each and every day,” said John Durst, SCRLA President and CEO.
Around 200 industry professionals from across the state attended the luncheon. Chef Brandon Velie of Juniper in Ridge Spring and Chef Brandon Carter of FARM in Bluffton were special guest speakers. They spoke about the popular SC Chef Ambassador program, which works to promote SC as a culinary destination by showcasing the state’s culinary talent and locally-grown products.
The event’s keynote speaker was a man whose name is synonymous with South Carolina’s lodging industry. E.L. “Bert” Pooser, Jr. of IMIC Hotels talked about his more than 53 years in the lodging industry.
Congratulations to the 2019 Stars of SC Hospitality Awards Winners!
Outstanding Chef
of the Year
Brian Dukes, Fatz Southern Kitchens, Taylors
SC Seafood Chef of
the Year
Chef Danny Smith, Frank’s Outback, Myrtle Beach
Hospitality
Educator of the Year
Geoffrey Blount, International Culinary Institute, Myrtle Beach
Community Service
Award
Auro Hotels, Greenville
Hospitality
Supplier of the Year Award
Scott and Company, Columbia
Hospitality
Supplier of the Year Award
Heartland Payment Systems
Restaurateur of
the Year
Lucy Buffet, Lucy Buffett’s LuLu’s, North Myrtle Beach
Hotelier of the
Year
Chris Harvey, Charlestowne Hotels, Charleston
Outstanding
Bartender of the Year
Brandon Urrego, Soby’s New South Cuisine, Greenville
Restaurant Manager
of the Year
Samantha Ryan,
Cribbs Kitchen, Spartanburg
Lodging Manager of
the Year
Sharon “PJ” Howell, Embassy Suites by Hilton Columbia – Greystone
Restaurant Front
of the House Employee of the Year
Madison White, 5Church, Charleston
Lodging Front of
the House Employee of the Year
Monty Shaw, Marriott Greenville
Restaurant Heart
of the House Employee of the Year
Garrett Davis, Charleston Crab House
Lodging Heart of
the House Employee of the Year
Andrew Partin, Embassy Suites Golf Resort & Conference Center, Greenville
Hospitality
Neighbor Award
Greater Florence Chapter of the SCRLA
About Fatz Southern Kitchen
Fatz Southern
Kitchen was founded in 1988 as Fatz Cafe in Spartanburg, S.C. More than thirty
years later, the brand is thriving with Southern-inspired, chef-crafted and
uniquely craveable food served with genuine Southern hospitality. Fatz Southern
Kitchen operates 35 restaurants in the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee and
Virginia and is now owned by Falcon Holdings Management, who owns and operates
Piccadilly Restaurants and is also a large franchisee of Church’s Chicken, Long
John Silver’s, Hardee’s and A&W Restaurants. To learn more, visit www.fatz.com.
About SCRLA
The mission of the SCRLA is to provide superior value and effective
communication by being the voice of the foodservice and lodging industry in
government and public relations, educational programs, offering operational
benefits, and creating opportunities for member involvement.