More than 1,800 nominations were reduced to 15 award recipients at the 2010 Red Hat Awards banquet Wednesday evening.
Earning recognition as Business of the Year was the Wok Box, with Wok Box employee Kelly Schiebelbein also named Best Back of House Personnel: Food and Beverage.
Another double winner was the Red Deer Lodge, with Karen Gato claiming the award for Best Back of House Personnel: Accommodation, and Steve Blackwell sharing the title of Best Manager/Supervisor: All Tourism and Hospitality Related Businesses with Lana Goldie of the Best Western Inn & Suites.
The Red Hat Award for Organization of the Year was presented to The Market@Red Deer, while Volunteer of the Year honours went to Mary Lou Armstrong.
Debbie Schott of the East Hill McDonalds was chosen Best Server: Restaurant/Bistro/Café, and Carla Ward of Shade’s Lounge received the same award in the Lounge/Nightclub/Pub category.
The Red Hats for Best Back of House Personnel were awarded to Karen Gato of the Red Deer Lodge in the Accommodation category and to Suranga Keerthi of the Holiday Inn Express for Accommodation/Information Service.
Cheryl Stoutley of Westerner Campground was named Best Customer Service Personnel for Alternate Accommodation: B&B/Campground/Guest Ranch; Anthony Davidson of the Collicutt Centre received the same award for Attraction/Recreation/Entertainment nominees.
The title for Best Clerk Representative went to Barry Taylor of the Port O’Call Safeway and Tara Spooner of The Bra Lounge, while the Red Hat for Best Customer Service Personnel: Transportation/Auto Service/Service Stations found its way to Diann Ritchie of Southside Dodge Chrysler.
About 370 people attended the awards presentation.