BY LAURA KALINICH

NEW JERSEY RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION

ATLANTIC CITY - In recognition of the increasingly important role restaurants play in the $35+ billion tourism industry in NJ, the New Jersey Restaurant Association (NJRA) and the New Jersey Travel Industry Association (NJTIA) have honored six New Jersey establishments as key players in local tourism by bestowing upon them the Ann Hall Tourism Diamond Award.

The winners included Carlos Bakery in Hoboken, Hamilton’s Grill Room in Lambertville, Pete and Elda’s in Neptune City, The Grand Hotel in Cape May, Uproot in Warren, and Iron Hill Brewery in Maple Shade. These businesses were honored jointly by the NJRA and the NJTIA with the Ann Hall Tourism Diamond Award at the NJ Conference on Tourism Luncheon, held on March 15th, at the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City. The winners were nominated by the NJRA membership and selected by Officers of the NJRA.

NJRA Director of Membership and Communications Laura Kalinich explained, “Although the tourism and hospitality industry has been affected by the state of the economy, we can all overcome this by offering patrons great customer service and encouraging them to DineOutOften.” NJRA Chairman of the Board Jack Koumbis respectfully looked on as Kalinich spoke, who certainly made the recently deceased NJRA President Deborah Dowdell proud. Dowdell was to be named President of the NJTIA at this luncheon therefore attendees wore white ribbons in her honor.

The NJRA represents owners and operators of full-service restaurants, catering facilities, taverns & pubs, brew pubs, diner restaurants, hotel restaurants, coffee shops, limited & quick service restaurants, institutional feeders, delis pizzerias, country clubs, culinary students and schools. Today, the New Jersey restaurant and hospitality industry includes 25,000 eating and drinking establishments generating $13 billion in annual sales and employing 311,000 people. Visit www.NJRA.org for more information.