2024 Restaurant Gala Honorees
Community Honoree
Travis Lunn
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, President and Chief Operating Officer
Travis Lunn is the President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City. In his leadership role, Mr. Lunn will oversee the resort’s daily operations and provide strategic leadership and direction.
Prior to Borgata, Mr. Lunn served as the MGM Resorts Southeast Group President & COO, where he led Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi and Gold Strike Casino Resort in Tunica, Mississippi. Mr. Lunn’s other high-profile leadership positions have included General Manager and Senior Vice President of Operations at MGM Grand Las Vegas, Vice President of Operations for the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, and General Manager of Hotel Operations for The Venetian and The Palazzo resorts.
A graduate of the University of Nevada Las Vegas with a bachelor’s degree in Hotel Administration, Travis’ gaming, and hospitality career spans over 20 years, during which he held key leadership positions at major properties throughout the United States. Travis enjoys the opportunity to pay it forward in the industry and has been recognized as a “Mentor of the Year” by UNLV as well as actively serving students via non-profits such as the Epicurean Charitable Foundation and currently serves on the LIGHT board for Stockton University.
Academy of Culinary Arts Honoree
Chef Demetrios Haronis '90
Tropicana Atlantic City, Executive Chef
Chef Demetrios Haronis grew up at the Jersey Shore and began working in his parents’ restaurant in Wildwood at the age of 10. The hospitality industry runs in the family, starting with his grandfather, to his mother, father and uncles--all successful operators. As he learned to cook from his father and the chefs that worked at his parents' restaurant, he finally got his chance to work the line.
From there he continued his education, working in notable restaurants along the Jersey coast from Cape May to Longport, learning from everyone he came in contact with. Along the way, Demetrios developed a respect for using the highest quality locally-sourced ingredients available.
As a graduate of the Academy of Culinary Arts in Mays Landing, NJ, Demetrios established his food philosophy early on in his career and the use of fresh, local and sustainable ingredients is the backbone of that philosophy.
In 1994, he joined Tropicana as a sous-chef, eventually worked his way through all of Tropicana's restaurants, being promoted to Restaurant Chef, then Executive Chef at FIN, Director of Culinary Operations, and ultimately Executive Chef for Tropicana Atlantic City.
Chef Demetrios is a member of the American Culinary Federation, Professional Chefs Association of South Jersey and the World Association of Chefs Societies and participates in various charities and fundraisers that benefit the community like the Atlantic Cape Community College Restaurant Gala, Community Food Bank, United Way, Red Cross and Salvation Army.