Beyond Bragging Rights: The Benefits of Local and National Awards for Your Hospitality Business

As a business owner, you likely know that recognition is important. Whether it’s in the form of positive customer reviews or industry awards, being recognized can help to boost your reputation, increase your visibility, and even attract new customers. 

This is especially true in the hospitality industry. The competition is fierce and there are countless options for consumers to choose from. 

But what exactly are the benefits of being nominated for and winning awards?

And…

How can you go about promoting your nominations to maximize their impact?

 

Why Winning a Restaurant Award Matters: The Power of Recognition in the Hospitality Industry

In the competitive world of hospitality, restaurant owners and operators are constantly looking for ways to stand out from the crowd. One of the most effective ways to do so is by winning a restaurant award. 

As a team of hospitality professionals, RMD Group understands the importance of delivering exceptional service and experiences to customers. That’s why we’re especially proud of the numerous awards our venues have received over the years, including:

  • Restaurant of the Year by Bar and Restaurant Expo Industry Excellence Awards (2022) 
  • Best New Nightclub in the Nation by Nightclub & Bar
  • San Diego’s Best Nightclub by San Diego Union Tribune Best Of (2014)
  • Best Ongoing Promotion in the Nation by Nightclub & Bar (2013)
  • Best New Gaslamp Restaurant / Bar by Lamplighter Awards (2015)
  • Favorite American Cuisine & Favorite Brunch by Lamplighter Awards (2015, 2017 & 2016, respectively)
  • Best Cuisine & Best American Cuisine by Taste of Downtown (2016 and 2017, respectively)
  • Diner’s Choice by Open Table (2015, 2016, 2017, & 2022)
  • Best Sushi in the Gaslamp by San Diego Sun (2023)

Needless to say, we’re proud of our achievements and encourage others in the industry to pursue recognition through award nominations so they too can experience the full range of benefits the experience offers.

First and foremost, these awards are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our clients, our venues, and employees.

They validate our efforts and inspire us to continue providing top-notch consulting services, but nominations and awards have a lot more to offer as well. 

Some prime examples include:

  • PR value
  • boost in team morale
  • and increased exposure that comes from being recognized by industry leaders and publications

As you can see, awards not only provide recognition and prestige, they also offer a range of benefits that go beyond the accolades themselves.

 
RMD Group Rookie of the year award

Building Buzz and Boosting Business: The PR Value of Winning a Restaurant Award

Winning an award is an excellent way for your business to gain recognition and publicity, both locally and nationally. It can help establish your business as a leader in the hospitality industry by demonstrating your expertise and credibility.

Utilizing the award can create media attention and generate social media excitement, broadening your reach to potential customers who may not have previously been aware of your business. This can increase the probability of establishing your brand as a trustworthy option for patrons.

The proof is in the pudding:

A study conducted by the Journal of Quality Assurance in Hospitality & Tourism found that potential customers are more likely to trust a business that has been recognized for its achievements.

Research suggests that awards bestowed upon businesses based on ratings by the broad customer audience are seen as important cues of recommendations and quality for other consumers. As such, consumer perceptions of what it means for a business to be "award-winning" might represent a relevant marketplace advantage because consumers often revisit and form their expectations in the face of this new information, and consider the opinions of others…"

So, when you’re nominated for an award or recognized for your achievements, reach out to local media outlets and industry publications to let them know about your success. These outlets are always on the lookout for stories and newsworthy events, and by sharing your good news with them, you increase the likelihood of being featured in their coverage. 

This can help to increase your visibility and build your brand’s reputation, especially if the outlet has a large and engaged audience.

After winning the Food & Wine Best New Chef award and earning a spot as a James Beard Award semifinalist for Rising Star Chef of the Year in 2014, Cara Stadler noticed, “There’s definitely been some new customers who haven’t heard about us who come in … the press is huge because we don’t do any advertising or anything, so it’s brought a lot of people who never read about us in. We’re definitely busier. Especially right after the announcement, we had a huge bump.”

A Victory for All: How Winning a Restaurant Award Can Energize Your Staff and Drive Performance

Another important benefit of winning awards is the boost it can provide to team morale. When your staff knows that their hard work and dedication is being recognized and celebrated, it can help to invigorate and inspire them to continue to perform at their best. 

Winning an award can be a source of pride for your team, and help to create a sense of camaraderie and shared accomplishment that can help to strengthen your team culture.

RMD Group’s Culinary Director, Wilfried Bergerhausen, views his award wins not as personal accomplishments, but as significant achievements for the entire team who helped him reach that level of success.

Getting recognized for your hard work is a great feeling, but it's not the end goal. You gotta keep putting in the effort to make sure your business stays true to the values that got you there in the first place. And don't forget about your team! They're the ones who make your restaurant shine and succeed, so keeping them motivated is just as important as anything else.”

Even awards within your own business can help boost employee morale. At RMD, we make a point to take the time to recognize employees who stand out.

RMD Group partner, Dave Renzella, RMD Group Partner explains:

“Every year we announce the winner of “Rookie of the Year”– an award that goes to an employee who has been with the company for less than a year and who has risen above expectation and proven they are an integral part of the company.

A plaque is given, and another plaque with a his/her picture and the year goes up on our corporate office wall.

It doesn’t cost very much, and because it’s been a tradition we’ve followed every year, it’s become a coveted award!”

Building Buzz: How to Mobilize Your Customers and Fans to Support Your Nomination

So, how can you go about earning a nomination or promoting your nomination to maximize its impact?

Here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Start with your most valued customers

Your most loyal and enthusiastic customers are likely to be the ones who are most invested in your success.

Reach out to them via email or social media and let them know that you’ve been nominated for an award.

Encourage them to vote for you, and offer a discount or other incentive for doing so. This can help to not only increase your chances of winning the award, but also to strengthen your relationship with your most valued customers.

2. Leverage social media

Social media is a powerful tool for promoting your nomination and increasing your visibility.

Create eye-catching graphics or videos that announce your nomination and encourage your followers to vote for you.

Use hashtags to increase your reach and engage with your followers by responding to their comments and questions.

You can also consider running a social media contest to encourage people to vote for you and share your post with their own followers.

Lumi, restaurant of the year award
RMD Group winning diners choice award

3. Use your email list

Your email list is a great way to reach out to your customers and let them know about your nomination.

Include a call-to-action in your regular email newsletters asking your subscribers to vote for you, and consider sending a dedicated email blast to promote your nomination.

You can also include a link to the voting page on your website and encourage your subscribers to share it with their own networks.

4. Reach out to brand advocates and partners

If you have partnerships with other businesses or organizations, reach out to them and ask if they would be willing to promote your nomination to their own followers.

This can be a great way to expand your reach and increase your chances of winning.

You can also reach out to your brand advocates, loyal customers, and followers on social media and ask them to support your nomination. Many people are happy to help out a business they love, especially if it only takes a few minutes of their time.

Being nominated for an award is a great honor and a valuable opportunity for business exposure. By following these tips and promoting your nomination through various channels, you can increase your chances of winning and gain recognition for you and your team’s hard work and accomplishments.

Celebrate your win and thank your supporters

Our rooftop sushi restaurant, Lumi, recently won “Best Sushi  in the Gaslamp” by the San Diego Sun’s 2023 Downtown Dining Reader’s Choice Awards.

Being recognized for having exceptional food, drinks, service, or atmosphere is a great opportunity to celebrate your business, hard work, and your team!

Post on your social accounts, add badges to your website, share in  your newsletter, and take the time to thank your  supporters while also using your win as leverage to gain awareness and reach!

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