The hospitality industry has a variety of awards that are given out each year. Here’s a quick summary to help you sort out what’s what. And if you are interested in working with an award-winning team, you can easily search opportunities by using the Awards job filters!
Note: The following awards are automatically added to their corresponding business profiles. In addition to these awards, Admins and Managers of business profiles are now able to self-manage other awards and recognitions, found in the "Awards" section (e.g., NY Times Stars, Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand). If you have a different award not currently listed, please submit a request.
AAA Diamond Awards
Each year, The American Automobile Association (i.e., the Triple-A) announces the hotels and restaurants across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean that have received a Diamond Award. The winning hospitality businesses are awarded one of the following recognitions: Approved, Three Diamond, Four Diamond or Five Diamond. To earn the prestigious Five Diamond designation, hotels and restaurants must pass rigorous evaluations that include unannounced in-person inspections, anonymous overnight stays, and a review by a panel of experts.
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James Beard Foundation Awards (JBFAs)
The James Beard Foundation recognizes leaders in culinary, food media and hospitality. The awards are voted on by more than 600 industry professionals, including previous winners, to select leaders who “champion a standard of good food anchored in talent, equity and sustainability.” Recipients receive a medallion etched with the image of James Beard and a certificate from the foundation.
Fun fact: The JBFAs are typically presented around James Beard’s birthday (May 5th).
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La Liste
La Liste recognizes the chefs, restaurants and regions impacting the industry via their excellence in cooking, innovation, sustainability and authenticity. This list is generated by a data algorithm that factors in 700+ international dining guides, crowd-sourced sites (e.g., Yelp, TripAdvisor) and press reviews (e.g., New York Times).
Fun fact: For 2023, La Liste introduced the following specialized awards: Pastry, Hotels, Mediterranean, and Moroccan.
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Michelin Guide
Michelin Guide has several distinctions awarded to restaurants, and as of 2024, hotels as well. These distinctions awarded based on Michelin inspectors who anonymously visit establishments and include the following categories:
- Bib Gourmand: Often referred to as the Bibs, the Bib Gourmands were created in 1997 (and named after the Michelin Man himself, Bibendum) to honor restaurants that offer a 3-course meal at an affordable price, serve good food and are friendly.
- Stars: The 1-3 star system is based on five criteria: quality of ingredients, mastery of flavor and cooking techniques, personality of chef in the cuisine, harmony of flavors and consistency between visits.
- 1 Star: Very good in its category
- 2 Stars: Excellent cooking, worth a detour
- 3 Stars: Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey
- Green Star: Introduced in 2020, the Green Star recognizes leader in sustainable practices. It is a standalone distinction and currently there are approximately 300 Green Stars worldwide.
- Keys: Beginning in 2024, Michelin Guide will be awarding hotels with Keys based on destination-worthy locations, architecture and interior design, service, unique character and value.
Fun fact: Michelin Guide was created by the Michelin brothers, Andre and Edouard, who gave out their first star in 1926; the three star format was introduced in 1931.
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Spirited Awards
Founded in 2007, the Spirited Awards are among the most prestigious awards for professionals, products, establishments and media in the global spirits and cocktail community. These annual awards are presented by the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation. Winners are determined by the votes of Spirited Awards judges who are a collection of internationally respected bartenders, bar owners, educators and writers.
Fun fact: Tales of the Cocktail began as an annual walking tour of historic New Orleans cocktail bars in 2002 and is now considered the world’s premier cocktail festival which includes a week of seminars, tastings, networking, and special events (e.g., the ceremony for the Spirited Awards).
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World’s 50 Best
William Reed Business Media presents the World’s 50 Best Restaurants and Bars, which ranks the top 50 bars and restaurants worldwide. The final lists are a result of votes by more than 1,000 independent experts.
Fun fact: World’s 50 Best is starting to roll out even more awards, for example in 2023 the first list of North America’s 50 Best Bars and World’s 50 Best hotels debuted.
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