LEXINGTON – Lexington Hospitality Awards today honored front-line staff and volunteers in the tourism industry who have demonstrated exceptional service as well as Hometown Hosts who brought conventions and events to Lexington.
“Every day, these unsung heroes of hospitality go the extra mile for our visitors and our community,” said Mary Quinn Ramer, president of VisitLEX. “They welcome us and help us make unforgettable memories. Without them, our $2.6 billion regional tourism industry would not be possible.”
This year we honored the following Service Excellence Award Recipients:
· Delaney Battle, The Campbell House, Curio Collection by Hilton
· Wayne Basconi, Camp Nelson National Monument
· Tessa Blanton, Homewood Suites by Hilton Lexington Fayette Mall
· Josh Campbell, Lexington City Center Marriott
· Franco Enmanuel Cerda Obregon, Mexico Mi Amor Mexican Restaurant
· Kathy Gross, Bella Café & Grille
· Rose Hill, Red Mile, INC
· LeAnna Hollon, Homewood Suites Lexington-Hamburg
· Matthew Lerza, Castle & Key Distillery
· Sonia Martinez Amador, Bella Cafe & Grille
· Susan V. Miller, Waveland State Historic Site
· Joy Moore, Keeneland Race Course
· Dean Morton, Delaware North LEX
· Kelli Nowlin, Embassy Suites Lexington Green
· Curtis Ocelotl-Aca, Residence Inn Lexington City Center
· Kaylee Payton, Barrel House Distilling Co.
· Lo Perez, The Crossroads Cafe, Hilton Lexington Downtown
· Annie Quinn, Buffalo Trace Distillery
· Craig Richardson, Delaware North LEX
· Nora Rivera, Smashing Tomato Fayette Mall
· Jorge Luis Romero-Ruiz, Staybridge Lexington South
· Selena Silva, Bespoken Spirits INC
· Sean Sines, OBC Kitchen
· Tasha Spires, DV8 Kitchen Vocational Training Foundation
· Martha Taylor, Nicholas County Tourism
· Mercer Vandenburg, Bluegrass Distillers
· Robert Williams, KRM Wagering, LLC
Hometown Hosts
The Hometown Host Program, which was created by VisitLEX in 2004, provides support and resources to anyone in Kentucky who can influence and be instrumental in bringing meetings, conventions and events to Lexington. VisitLEX’s goal is to make the planning process easier for the Hometown Hosts by providing meeting and hotel options, specialty venue ideas, and creative local group activities.
These Hometown Hosts were responsible for bringing more than 13,000 visitors and $11 million of direct and indirect impact to the Bluegrass region. They brought a variety of events and meetings to Lexington – from sporting events to national conferences to professional conferences.
"These Hometown Hosts helped attract many meetings that otherwise might not have been located in Lexington," VisitLEX President Mary Quinn Ramer said. "They serve a significant role -- not only in tourism and conventions but also in exposing so many visitors to the tremendous attractions that Lexington has to offer."
Here are the 2025 Hometown Host honorees, their organization and the conference or meeting they helped bring to Lexington:
Derek Phelps
Ed Brown
Thoroughbred Chapter #140
National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors
2026 National Convention
Dr. Gregory Tiu
The University of the Philippines Medical Alumni Society in America
Grand Convention 2026
Brandon Howard
Bridget Abernathy
Kentucky Division of Forestry
National Association of State Foresters
2026 Annual Meeting
Gerry van der Meer
Peggy Trafton
Rotary Club of Lexington
Association of Rotary Club Executive Directors
Rotary Club Large Club Conference 2026
Scott Talley
Campus Crusade for Christ
Cru Annual Staff Conference 2024
Jeremy Grubbs
Big Bear Hockey Tournaments
The Stable Classic 2024
Red Mile Rumble 2025
Horseshoe Showdown 2025
Holly Elkins
UK Center for Interprofessional and Community Health Education -
Area Health Education Centers
Kentucky AHEC Annual Voluntary Faculty Conference
Emily Gibson
EngageKY
EngageKY 2024 Fall Training
Len and Vicki Noble
South Atlantic Shrine Association
2026 Spring Festival
Aaron Bell
US Geological Survey
2024 Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center Face-to-Face
Dennis Emery
UK Athletics – Tennis
Lexington Challenger Tennis Championships
Ryan Holder Junior Tennis Championships
Natasha Crain
University of Kentucky Healthcare
UK HealthCare ECMO Conference 2025
Dr. Stuart E. Brown II DVM
Keeneland
Organization of Racing Investigators 2025 Conference
Callie Prewitt
Samantha Dodson Skinner
Kelsey Hill
Partners for Rural Impact
2025 Partners for Rural Impact All Staff Event
Julianne Manning
Alex Clay
Suran Systems, INC
Suran Systems Annual CDM+ Users Conference 2025
Nicki Jenkins
University of Kentucky - Office for Student Success
Parent and Family Association
Parent and Family SEC Exchange
Michelle Sizemore
Catherine Brereton
Chelsea Brislin
University of Kentucky - Gaines Center for the Humanities
Gaines Center 40th Anniversary Celebration
Isaac Jones
Scarlett Consalvi
Kentucky Small Business Development Center
Kentucky Small Business Development Center May Meeting
Jennifer Mauer
NURSA
Nursa Midwest Team Meeting - Spring 2025
Jenny Mefford
Phi Beta Psi Sorority
Phi Beta Psi National Convention 2025
Julie Ribes
Sue Overman
South Central Association for Clinical Microbiology
South Central Association for Clinical Microbiology Spring 2027 Meeting
Bishop John Stowe
Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington
Association of U.S. Catholic Priests 2024 Assembly
OFS-USA 2026 Quinquennial Congress
Representative David Meade
Speaker Pro Tempore
Kentucky General Assembly
2026 Southern Legislative Conference
