FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Media Contacts: 
Ryan Mack, VP of Communications / 801-859-3587 / rmack@visitsaltlake.com  
Jenna Bree, Communications Manager/ 203-692-5141 / jbree@visitsaltlake.com 

Visit Salt Lake Accepting Nominations for Fifth Annual SALT Awards 
Nominations to Honor Salt Lake County’s Frontline Hospitality Workers Now Open Through March 30 

Salt Lake City (March 25, 2026) – From servers and housekeepers to event staff and guest services teams, frontline hospitality workers shape every visitor experience in Salt Lake. Visit Salt Lake is now accepting nominations for the fifth annual SALT Awards, recognizing the people who deliver exceptional service across Salt Lake County’s tourism industry. 

Honorees will be celebrated Tuesday, June 9, at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre. Each award recipient will receive $2,000 in recognition of their contributions. 

The SALT Awards highlight individuals who embody Service, Accomplishment, Leadership and Tenacity (SALT). Nominations are encouraged from colleagues, supervisors, and community members to recognize those who consistently go above and beyond. 

Award Categories for 2025 Include: 

  • Restaurant Front and Center 

  • Restaurant Behind the Scenes 

  • Lodging Front and Center 

  • Lodging Behind the Scenes 

  • Scene Maker (attractions, venues, caterers, event production, transportation services) 

  • Best Boss 

  • Large Facility Operations (centers, arenas, resorts) 

  • Breakthrough Star (new this year) 

  • Startup of the Year (new this year) 

  • Best Use of Tech in Hospitality (new this year) 

“We want to celebrate the work that we see every day,” said Kaitlin Eskelson, President and CEO of Visit Salt Lake. “It’s the frontline teams who turn a visit into something memorable, and the SALT Awards are about recognizing the people doing the work, often behind the scenes, who take pride in showing up for guests and for each other. Their leadership, resilience and care are what set Salt Lake’s hospitality community apart.” 

Nominations are open through Monday, March 30th and can be submitted online here. 

Visit Salt Lake will also host the SALT Summit on June 9th, bringing together industry leaders and professionals for a day of learning, connection and leadership development ahead of the evening awards celebration. 

The SALT Awards are a communitywide opportunity to celebrate the people who power Salt Lake’s visitor economy and help make the destination welcoming, vibrant and memorable. 

Visit Salt Lake (VSL) is the private, nonprofit Destination Sales & Experience Organization (DSXO) dedicated to recruiting, retaining, and activating conventions, meetings, sporting events and leisure travel that fuels the region’s visitor economy. In partnership with Salt Lake County, hoteliers, members and public-sector stakeholders, VSL helps generate $6.15 billion in annual visitor spending, $575 million in direct tax revenue and $1,700 in household tax savings while supporting more than 56,000 jobs. By championing Salt Lake's authentic urban-meets-mountain identity, VSL creates transformative experiences that benefit the community and visitors alike. For more information, visit www.VisitSaltLake.com.