North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association

North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association Tenacious advocates for North Carolina's $36.7 billion hospitality industry. From its beginnings in 1947 at the O.

Henry Hotel in Greensboro, the North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association has evolved into the one of the largest and most influential trade associations in the state. Today, NCRLA is the voice of North Carolina's $27.3 billion restaurant and lodging industries, representing the interests of more than 16,000 businesses throughout the state. Member businesses employ 13 percent of North Carolina’s workforce, and are among the largest private employment sectors in the state.

🍽️ 26 finalists. Nearly 1,000 NC farmers and producers. One unforgettable night.The finalists for the 10th Annual NCRLA ...
08/20/2026

🍽️ 26 finalists. Nearly 1,000 NC farmers and producers. One unforgettable night.

The finalists for the 10th Annual NCRLA Chef Showdown have been announced — and they’re bringing the best of North Carolina food, beverage and hospitality to Durham, NC!

After seven months and 11 rounds of competition, 26 finalists remain:

🧑‍🍳 15 Chef of the Year finalists
🥐 5 Pastry Chef of the Year finalists
🍸️ 6 Mixology & Distillery teams

On September 2, you can taste the same competition dishes, desserts and cocktails these finalists presented to the judges — all in one walk-around tasting experience at Bay 7.

Plus, guests can:
✨️ Vote for the Peoples Choice Awards, powered by Sysco
🥛 See who takes home the Dairy Does More Awards
🍷 Sip award-winning wines at the NC Wine Bar
🏆️ Celebrate the four 2026 Chef Showdown winners entering the Hall of Champions

It’s 10 years of Chef Showdown — and a celebration of the people, places and products that make North Carolina hospitality special.

📆 September 2 | 6–8:30 PM
📍 Bay 7 at American To***co Campus, Durham, NC
🔞 21+

08/18/2026

🏆️ The Finalists Are In!

After seven months, 11 rounds of competition and a record-breaking 102 competitors, just 26 remain in the running for the 10th Annual NCRLA Chef Showdown!

Meet the 15 Chef of the Year finalists, five Pastry Chef of the Year finalists and six Mixology & Distillery teams who will take the spotlight at the Grand Finale on September 2 at Bay 7 in Durham.

This year’s finalists represent the incredible depth of culinary and beverage talent found across North Carolina — from the mountains to the coast. 🌄 🌊

And while the four category champions have already earned the highest scores of the season and will be welcomed into the Hall of Champions, there’s still one more set of honors up for grabs: the Peoples Choice Awards, powered by Sysco. Guests will cast their votes for their favorites in four categories during the Grand Finale!

Come taste what these finalists have created and help us celebrate 10 years of Chef Showdown!

📆 September 2, 2026 | 6–8:30 PM
📍 Bay 7 | American To***co Campus, Durham, NC
🔞 21+
Buy Tickets: www.NCChefShowdown.com

🙌 A huge thank you to our incredible speakers at the NCRLA Hospitality AI Summit!Yesterday's summit brought together som...
08/11/2026

🙌 A huge thank you to our incredible speakers at the NCRLA Hospitality AI Summit!

Yesterday's summit brought together some of the sharpest minds in hospitality and technology to talk about what AI means for our industry — and it wouldn't have been possible without our amazing lineup:

🎤 Bhavana Bartholf & Joao Oliveira, Compass Group
🎤 Sean Potter, CEO, Built on Hospitality
🎤 Kyle Highberg, VP of Hospitality, Biltmore Farms
🎤 Lee Bridges, Chief Product Officer, Inn-Flow
🎤 Kelley O'Brien, Growth Marketing Lead, Farlow + Co.
🎤 Scott Peacock, Director of Marketing & Communications, Visit NC
🎤 Todd Keenan, Director of Specialty Lines, Sentinel
..and a special thank you to Allen Thomas, NCRLA President & CEO, for kicking things off and closing us out with the AI Action Plan!

Thank you all for sharing your time, insight, and expertise — helping our members walk away with real, practical tools to bring AI into their businesses. We're so grateful and can't wait to keep building on these conversations!

08/07/2026

Where Are They Now?

Heidi Billotto here, Executive Producer of the NCRLA Chef Showdown catching up with some past champions to look back at all they brought to the table and see what they are up to now.

Meet Pastry Chef Tie Whittaker , our 2021 Pastry Chef of the Year and the talent behind Buttermilk Boutique, in Clayton, NC. .

Tie first stepped into one of our preliminary rounds of competition in 2019 with a peach cobbler, then dove headfirst into the molded desserts she had only dreamt about, weaving flavors her grandmother inspired along with the best of North Carolina dairy farmers and local producers.

Then the next year, she competed straight through a pregnancy and welcomed her baby just two days after that years Grand Finale!

And then, came back the next year to claim the title as our 2021 champion with a chocolate showstopper built as an ode to her dad, made with milk from Ran-Lew Dairy Milk Company in Snow Camp, NC; chocolate from Videri Chocolate Factory in Raleigh NC; and organic miso from Miso Master Miso in Rutherfordton, NC!

These days you’ll find Tie at Triangle-area farmers markets, often with her husband Chef Glen Whittaker and their two daughters right alongside her. Go say hi and taste what dreams are made of.

Want to see where the next champions begin?

Grab your tickets to the NCRLA Chef Showdown Grand Finale on September 2 at Bay 7 at the American To***co Campus in Durham.

Tickets on Sale NOW at NCChefShowdown.com.

🤖 AI isn't coming to hospitality—it's already here.Whether you operate a restaurant, hotel, or hospitality business, AI ...
08/04/2026

🤖 AI isn't coming to hospitality—it's already here.

Whether you operate a restaurant, hotel, or hospitality business, AI is changing how guests discover, book, and experience your brand. The question is: Will your business be ready?

Join us on Monday, August 10 for the inaugural NCRLA Hospitality AI Summit at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh. Hear from industry leaders and technology experts as they share practical strategies and real-world applications you can start using immediately.

💡 Explore:
• AI marketing & guest engagement
• Workforce and operational efficiencies
• Emerging technologies & industry trends
• Cybersecurity and risk management
• Preparing your business for the future

🍽️ Lunch is included.
🎟️ Seats are limited.
💲 Members: $25 | Non-Members: $35

👉 Learn more at the event website in the comments

A Decade of NCRLA Chef Showdown Awards & Accolades 🎉Over the past 10 years, the NCRLA Chef Showdown has celebrated many ...
07/30/2026

A Decade of NCRLA Chef Showdown Awards & Accolades 🎉

Over the past 10 years, the NCRLA Chef Showdown has celebrated many firsts continued to grow alongside North Carolina's incredible culinary and beverage community.

✨ 2016 – The inaugural competition awards our first NCRLA Chef and Pastry Chef of the Year
🍸 2017 – The 1st NCRLA Mixologist of the Year award joins the lineup of champions, showcasing North Carolina's artistry behind the bar.
🥃 2019 – The 1st time the NCRLA Distillery of the Year award is officially introduced, recognizing North Carolina's ever growing craft spirits industry.
🥤 2024 – The 1st Best Mocktail of the Year award officially makes its debut, saluting the creativity that goes into creating alcohol-free craft beverages.

What began as a one night culinary competition has grown into a celebration of the chefs, pastry chefs, mixologists, distillers, and beverage professionals who continue to elevate North Carolina's hospitality industry.

We can't wait to see what the next ten years bring!

🍽️ Join us for the Sept 2, 2026 NCRLA Chef Showdown Grand Finale as we celebrate 10 years of unforgettable moments and crown this year's champions.

🎟️ Tickets are on sale now! Follow the link in the first comment under this post.

Don't miss your chance to experience the excitement, incredible food and drinks, and one of North Carolina's premier hospitality events.

What's been your favorite NCRLA Chef Showdown memory over the past decade? Share it in the comments! ⬇️

🚨 TAKE ACTION: Help Protect NC Restaurants & BarsNorth Carolina’s House returns August 4, and we expect lawmakers to tak...
07/30/2026

🚨 TAKE ACTION: Help Protect NC Restaurants & Bars

North Carolina’s House returns August 4, and we expect lawmakers to take up legislation that would ban hemp-derived consumable products for adults, including beverages, in North Carolina.

Hemp-derived beverages are a growing source of revenue for restaurants and bars. Rather than an outright ban, North Carolina should establish sensible regulations and strong safeguards—including a 21+ age requirement.

📣 Now is the time to make your voice heard. Contact your Representative and urge them to send HB 328 back to the negotiating table.

A 30-second email can make a difference in protecting your business, your employees, and consumer choice.

👉 Take action today: https://ncrla.quorum.us/campaign/166957/

🎤 Speaker Spotlight: Sean Potter & Kyle HighbergWhat does AI actually look like in today's hospitality industry? Join us...
07/28/2026

🎤 Speaker Spotlight: Sean Potter & Kyle Highberg

What does AI actually look like in today's hospitality industry? Join us at NCRLA's inaugural AI Summit to hear from two leaders who are using it every day.

Sean Potter, Founder of Built on Hospitality, and Kyle Highberg, Vice President of Hospitality for Biltmore Farms, will share real-world examples of how AI is helping hospitality businesses improve marketing, streamline operations, enhance the guest experience, and make smarter business decisions.

This interactive session is all about practical applications—not hype. Bring your questions, hear what's working, learn from their experiences, and leave with ideas you can put into action right away.

📍 McKimmon Center at NC State University
🗓 Monday, August 10
⏰ 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Seats are limited for NCRLA's first-ever AI Summit—don't miss your chance to be part of the conversation.

🔗 Register today at the link in the comments

Have you checked out the Summer 2026 edition of At Your Service yet? ☀️📖If not, now's the perfect time to dive in.Inside...
07/27/2026

Have you checked out the Summer 2026 edition of At Your Service yet? ☀️📖

If not, now's the perfect time to dive in.

Inside this issue:
✔️ A behind-the-scenes look at Rally in Raleigh and our advocacy efforts
✔️ Highlights from the Hospitality Summit Series
✔️ The latest on the 10th annual NCRLA Chef Showdown
✔️ ProStart student success stories
✔️ Member news, industry updates, upcoming events, and more

Whether you missed it when it launched or are ready for a second look, there's something for everyone in North Carolina's hospitality industry.

📖 Read the digital edition: https://www.ncrla.org/magazines/at-your-service-summer-2026/

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