TopHAT 2023 Nominations
We have added new awards this year, so please take time to review the criteria sheet for specifics before starting your nominations.
Congratulations to our 2023 New Mexico Tourism Hall of Fame Inductees – Bill Lee and Tom and Jerean Hutchinson!
The Face of Hospitality in New Mexico
While many people think of hotels as the brand name on the building, those hotels are owned and operated by local people who invest in their people and their communities. In addition, the hospitality and tourism industry provides 200+ diverse employment opportunities ranging from above minimum wage entry level jobs to marketing, technical, sales, and management careers in both rural and urban communities. Check out some of the stories behind the hotels!
NMHA is excited to announce a new giving option for our Hospitality Scholarship Fund. In partnership with the Albuquerque Community Foundation, we have set up a direct link for donations to the Fund. Just use the QR code to access the direct link and make a donation to support the next generation of hospitality professionals. Through November 30, all donors will be entered into a prize drawing. Prizes include hotel stays, jewelry, Nambe, ski passes, and more!
Difficulties donating with the QR code?
Donate Here!
TopHAT 2022 Winners
Check Our Awards Page for Photos of All the Amazing Winners!
- Product Development Awards - Outstanding Attraction/Experience
- Routes Bicycle Tours & Rentals Inc
- Product Development Awards - Outstanding Event
- City of Roswell - 75th UFO Festival
- Visit Albuquerque - USA Cycling Masters Road National Championships
- Hospitality Professional of the Year
- Amy Miller - Marriott Courtyard - NMSU
- Tourism Professional of the Year
- Karina Armijo - Town of Taos
- Hotel of The Year - Full Service
- Sheraton Uptown - Albuquerque
- Hotel of The Year - Select Service
- Marriott Courtyard - NMSU
- Innovation/Sustainability
- Hotel Zazz
- Routes Bicycle Tours & Rentals
- Vendor/Supplier of the Year
- Santa Fe Valet & Limousine
- Back-of-House Food & Beverage Employee of the Year
- Michael Borges - Embassy Suites by Hilton, Albuquerque
- Back-of-House Hospitality Employee of the Year
- Maria Guadalupe Hernandez - Home2 Suites, Downtown Albuquerque
- Front-of-House Food & Beverage Employee of the Year
- Juan Mejia - Marriott Pyramid
- Front-of-House Hospitality Employee of the Year
- Fabian Huerta, Holiday Inn Express
- Best Print Campaign
- Farmington Convention & Visitors Bureau 2021-2022 Farmington Vacation Guide
- Best Social Media Campaign
- Siarza Social Digital - Hotel Zazz
- Most Innovative Campaign
- Visit Albuquerque & TOURISM Santa Fe - Albuquerque & Santa Fe: Two One-of-a-Kind Destinations
- PR: Earned Media Campaign
- TOURISM Santa Fe - Santa Fe - The Best City in the West
- Best Broadcast Campaign
- Village of Ruidoso - Building Traditions
- Best Digital Campaign
- Town of Red River - Winter/Summer 2022
- Town of Taos/Gizmo Productions - Taos.org Website Development
Ready NM
Ready NM, a partnership between the Department of Workforce Solutions, New Mexico Workforce Connection, and the New Mexico Higher Education Department, has created a hospitality industry specific job board where employers can post positions and job seekers can access information about career opportunities in hospitality. Employers can post job openings at no charge, and job seekers can filter their search by geography or job type.
To post a job or to look for hospitality jobs in your click on the link below.
NMHA Career Board
It’s not just a job, it’s a career!
Hospitality has a long history…and a fast-growing future. The original hotel concept – the inn – has been around for thousands of years and not even today’s technology has replaced travelers’ needs for accommodations. Moreover, the global hospitality industry has consistently expanded over time to meet changing traveler needs and expectations. Like the industry itself, experience working in hospitality translates to a career that is unlimited.
Hospitality jobs are becoming ever more varied, with the traditional departments of Front Office, Housekeeping, Laundry, Concierge and Guest Relations seeing new additions. Fitness teams, nutritionists, financial experts, communication/marketing specialists, data analysts, and even in-house designers are positions available in the modern hotel industry. As new generations of travelers demand accommodations that match their lifestyle, the hospitality industry will continue to expand and adapt to keep pace.
If you’re looking for a career that opens a gateway to the world, allows you to meet new people and learn new skills every day, be part of a diverse team, and have global opportunities for advancement in an industry with proven staying power, then check out some of the great career opportunities available here in New Mexico.
About NMHA
New Mexico Hospitality Association is a nonprofit (501c6) that is focused on serving its members and all segments of the hospitality industry. The association delivers decades of combined experience to lead public policy and workforce development strategy for a more prosperous economy. The association represents member interests at the state and national level, cultivates professional development, and targets opportunity to incubate and foster long-term job and wealth creation statewide. The association’s members are true investors and are playing a crucial role in growing tourism and New Mexico’s economy.
Scholarship Fund
The New Mexico Hospitality Association is dedicated to developing advocacy, educational and collaborative opportunities to further strengthen the hospitality and tourism industry in New Mexico. Our commitment to educational opportunities through our vision to become the #1 resource for the New Mexico hospitality industry inspired the creation of the Hospitality and Tourism Scholarship Fund, with the purpose to provide students and continued learners in New Mexico the ability to pursue an education and career in hospitality and tourism.
Government Affairs
New Mexico Hospitality Association serves as the advocate, educator and unified voice for New Mexico’s tourism industry – working to ensure its growth and success through collaborative efforts. Each year, our industry is faced with several critical issues on both state and federal levels, which could impact visitation to our state and our members’ ability to manage a successful business. We closely monitor all legislation connected to our industry. On a federal level, we work with our partners, American Hotel & Lodging Association as well as the US Travel Association, who represent the interests of our members on Capitol Hill.
Be Patient, Be Kind, Be Respectful
In advance of businesses fully reopening in New Mexico on July 1, the New Mexico Hospitality Association (NMHA) in collaboration with the New Mexico Restaurant Association (NMRA) and the Jennifer Riordan Foundation (Foundation), have joined together with a campaign to ask the public to be patient, kind and respectful when dealing with hospitality and restaurant staff.
Many hotels and restaurants across the country, including in New Mexico, are dealing with staff shortages or are training new employees which may result in longer wait times and, sometimes, frustrated customers. The “Be Kind” campaign encourages guests to exercise patience, kindness and respect when patronizing hotels or restaurants.
Visit Albuquerque
At the heart of New Mexico beats the pulse of a vibrant city. In Albuquerque, diverse cultures, authentic art and dynamic traditions have helped shape our centuries-old story. No matter your interests, the city has countless opportunities for you to explore. Sample traditional New Mexican cuisine that takes minutes to make and hundreds of years to prepare, experience world-class museums, stroll along Central Avenue under the vintage neon glow of Route 66, or soar high above the city in the hot air ballooning capital of the world — a sight sure to change your perspective.
Visit Las Cruces
EXPLORE. EXPERIENCE. DISCOVER.
Outdoor adventure. Unique culinary experiences. Vibrant culture. Rich history. From national parks and monuments to one of the top-rated farmer’s markets in the country, Las Cruces offers a world filled with natural wonder, year-round excitement, and historic proportions of fun! Escape to Southern New Mexico.
TOURISM Santa Fe
Santa Fe, New Mexico is a city unlike any other, truly living up to its tagline, The City Different, at every turn. With legendary history and culture around every corner, an art scene that spans from traditional to contemporary, accommodations with a local feel yet world-class status, award-winning cuisine that’s as eclectic as it is sumptuous, and countless experiences to encounter, you’re sure to uncover something different about yourself when you visit.