Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador has wrapped up its trade show and conference by welcoming a new chairperson.

John Devereaux, who previously served as vice-chair, takes over from Deborah Bourden.

Devereaux has spent years in the accommodations industry as the owner of the historic Edge of the Avalon Inn in Trepassey, where his family is from.

The trade show and conference wrapped up Thursday night with the annual Tourism Excellence Awards gala at the JAG Hotel in downtown St. John’s.

Top winners this year include Lumsden Beach Company for tourism innovation, the Newfoundland Embassy for tourism business, and St. John’s International Airport Authority as corporate tourism partner.

Other winners include:

Culinary and Agritourism Award: Buoy & Arrow Restaurant & Suites, Rocky Harbour
Accommodator Award: Hew & Draw Hotel, Corner Brook
Bed & Breakfast Award: Bread & Cheese Country Inn, Bay Bulls
Tourism Champion Award: Roger Jamieson (posthumous)
Tourism Employee of the Year: Kayte Lewis, Arbour Restaurant & Lounge, Bay Bulls
Sustainable Tourism Award: Tourism Elliston – Roots, Rants & Roars
Cultural Tourism Award: Miawpukek First Nation Powwow
Tourism Achievement Award: Mark McCarthy