Alabama Honors 20 Hospitality Leaders
The Alabama Restaurant & Hospitality Association recognized industry professionals and public officials at its 2026 Stars of the Industry Awards.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Hospitality
The Alabama Restaurant & Hospitality Association presented 20 awards at its 2026 Stars of the Industry Awards on November 2, 2026, at The Hotel Wildemont in Mountain Brook. The evening included a dinner and a statewide bartender competition.
Why it matters
The awards spotlight leaders across Alabama's restaurant and hotel sector, from chefs and hoteliers to suppliers and educators. Recognition of this kind highlights the people who keep the state's hospitality industry running.
The association presented 20 awards, including Humanitarian of the Year given to three recipients. Comparisons with prior years' award counts were not available in the source extraction.
The players
Alabama Restaurant & Hospitality Association
The state trade association representing restaurants and hospitality businesses across Alabama, which hosts the annual Stars of the Industry Awards.
Chris Lilly
Pitmaster and co-owner of Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q in Decatur, a longtime Alabama barbecue institution.
Rep. Danny Garrett
Alabama state representative who was recognized with the association's Excellence in Government award.
The details
Main awards went to a restaurateur, a hotelier, a small hotelier, a chef, a bartender, a supplier, a tourism promoter, an educator and a government official. Restaurateur of the Year went to Chris Lilly of Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q, and Excellence in Government went to Rep. Danny Garrett.
Timeline
November 2, 2026: Stars of the Industry Awards presented at The Hotel Wildemont in Mountain Brook.
Industry Context
The Stars of the Industry Awards is the association's annual program recognizing Alabama restaurant and hotel professionals across front-of-house, back-of-house and leadership roles. The 2026 event continues that yearly recognition of the state's hospitality workforce.
Diners and guests in Alabama benefit when the restaurants and hotels they use are recognized for service and quality. Recognized operators often set standards that shape the dining and lodging options available across the state.
The takeaway
Recognition programs like these draw attention to the workers behind Alabama's restaurants and hotels. Readers who want to support local hospitality can look to the honorees named in the awards.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in the Hospitality section of Alabama business news.
