About the Awards
Much of the visitor experience in Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach is shaped by the hospitality employees our visitors encounter—or enjoy the work of—every day. Outstanding employees have helped us garner a 99% "satisfied/very satisfied" rating and 95% "would recommend" rate from our visitors*, and we'd like to help recognize them for being such wonderful ambassadors for the destination.
We invite you to nominate those “rock star” top employees. You know the ones—the ones that always get positive guest comments, the ones that always show up with a smile, those that always come through in a pinch… those that go above and beyond. This is all about them!
Nominate up to three employees, per category, that meet the following criteria:
- Employed at the establishment at least six months
- Employee consistently goes above and beyond
- Employee is willing to cross-train
- Business should fall within one of the following categories: Restaurant, Hotel/Motel/Resort, Vacation Rental, Attraction, Shopping/Retail
The deadline for nominations is Monday, April 20, 2026.
Categories for consideration:
- Restaurant - Front of House Hero
- Restaurant - Back of House Hero
- Hotel/Motel/Resort - Front of House Hero
- Hotel/Motel/Resort - Back of House Hero
- Vacation Rental Hero
- Attraction Hero
- Shopping/Retail Hero
*Downs & St. Germain, 2025 Economic Impact & Visitor Tracking Report