2019 GHLA Stars of the Lodging Industry Awards Celebration
GHLA Celebrates Industry Heroes and Honor the Industry's Finest Associates and Properties at GHLA Stars of the Lodging Industry Celebration
On April 12, 2019 more than 750 hoteliers gathered for the Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association (GHLA) industry-wide celebration at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta to pay tribute to the finest employees and properties in Georgia's lodging industry. Representatives from Georgia's top hotels attended along with their honorees for this statewide industry recognition program. The purpose of this program is to provide the lodging industry with a forum to bestow recognition to lodging industry employees from the front of the house to the heart of the house and to recognize outstanding property-wide programs and initiatives. The theme for this year's awards program was "Celebration of Heroes." GHLA acknowledged the winning attributes behind each of the men and women nominated for this esteemed honor. "It is important to set aside a day to bring our industry together to celebrate the achievements and successes of our own,” says Jim Sprouse, Executive Director of GHLA. “Our industry is blessed with amazing men and women who are committed to excellence and offer world-class service that has led to our state’s success as a premier destination for business and tourism." GHLA launched this program in 2007 as a means of providing recognition to top industry programs and personnel in all facets of the lodging industry. Hoteliers have embraced this program with enthusiasm by submitting nominations of their own staff, and then by joining with their peers to celebrate the accomplishments of the entire industry. GHLA received a total of 302 nominations submitted by 70 properties across the state. The Association assembled a panel of esteemed judges with lodging and tourism expertise to evaluate all nominations and designate award recipients within each category. Entries were evaluated in four property award categories and nine employee award categories. During GHLA's March luncheon celebration, every nominee was recognized amid industry peers, and 52 award winners were named. GHLA extends our sincere appreciation to the generous Platinum Level Sponsors who made many of the elements of this event possible: Hyatt Regency Atlanta and PSAV. Our Gold Sponsors were: Atlanta Movie Tours, Berman Fink Van Horn P.C., Bold Events, Expedia Group, Georgia World Congress Center Authority, Reis Birdwhistell Photography, Shepard, Yellowstone Landscape. Our Silver Sponsors were: AmeriPark, Evolution Hospitality Services, Georgia Power, Heartland Payment Systems, Hospitality Staffing Solutions, Martino-White Printing, ONsite, Royal Cup Coffee & Tea, Southeastern Laundry Equipment, Stokes Wagner. Our Bronze Sponsor was: TLC Tri-State Laundry Companies. To view a photo album of this event, click here. 
And the Winners Are:
Below are the properties and individuals honored at GHLA's Stars of the Lodging Industry Celebration April 12, 2019. These people were chosen from 302 nominations submitted. The nominations are evaluated in four divisions, based on property size. Division 1 is for properties with 150 rooms or less; Division 2 is for properties with 151 – 299 rooms; Division 3 is for properties with 300 – 399 rooms; and Division 4 is for properties with 400 or more rooms. Property-Wide Awards Outstanding Community Service Award - Presented by Gas South LLC Barnsley Resort (Div. 1) Hilton Garden Inn - Atlanta Downtown (Div. 2) Atlanta Marriott Alpharetta (Div. 3) Loews Atlanta Hotel (Div. 4) Outstanding Guest Relations Award - Presented by Postec Barnsley Resort (Div. 1) The St. Regis Atlanta (Div. 2) JW Marriott Atlanta Buckhead (Div. 3) Loews Atlanta Hotel (Div. 4) Outstanding Special Event Award for One-Time Only Event - presented by PSAV Hotel Clermont (Div. 1) Hilton Garden Inn - Atlanta Downtown (Div. 2) The Hotel at Avalon, Autograph Collection (Div. 3) Atlanta Airport Marriott (Div. 4) Outstanding Special Event Award for Recurring Events - presented by PSAV Barnsley Resort (Div. 1) Kimpton Overland Hotel (Div. 2) Atlanta Evergreen Marriott Conference Resort (Div. 3) InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta (Div. 4) Personnel Awards General Manager of the Year Award – presented by BMS CAT Jerry Clement - Courtyard by Marriott - Perimeter Center Atlanta (Div. 1) Pritpal Singh - Perry Lane Hotel (Div. 2) Amir Blattner - Hyatt Regency Savannah (Div. 3) Sharon Kilmartin - Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia (Div. 4) Manager of the Year – presented by Rohlyn Companies Patricia Velazquez White - Executive Housekeeper - Embassy Suites Hotel - Alpharetta (Div. 1) JD Ba - Director of Operations - Renaissance Atlanta Airport Gateway Hotel (Div. 2) Jiri Tulpa - Director of Services - Atlanta Evergreen Marriott Conference Resort (Div. 3) Bert Lugo - Dual Director of Engineering - Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway (Div. 4) Stevan Porter Emerging Hospitality Leader of the Year - presented by InterContinental Hotels Group Grace Renshaw - Assistant General Manager - Hotel Clermont (Div. 1) Courtney Hitzel - Meetings and Special Events Manager - The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee (Div. 2) Colin James Sarner - Night Manager - Embassy Suites by Hilton Atlanta at Centennial Olympic Park (Div. 3) Ashley Shan - Senior Manager of Meeting and Special Events - The Ritz-Carlton Atlanta (Div. 4) Administrative Employee of the Year Arielle Edwards-Jackson - Events Specialist - SpringHill Suites Atlanta Airport Gateway (Div. 1) Janina Manning - Administrative Assistant - Renaissance Atlanta Airport Gateway Hotel (Div. 2) Mary Sommers - Administrative Sales Assistant - Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center (Div. 3) Rennan Farias - Sales Coordinator - The Ritz-Carlton Atlanta (Div. 4) Support Department Employee of the Year - presented by Hinson Security Services Eduardo Byers - Maintenance Engineer - The Glenn Hotel Atlanta (Div. 1) John Dixon - Engineering Supervisor - Aloft Atlanta Downtown (Div. 2) Judy Carlisle - Purchasing Coordinator - Chateau Elan Winery & Resort (Div. 3) Sam Sabetazem - Engineering Supervisor - Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel & Convention Center (Div. 4) Culinarian of the Year Evan Babb - Chef de Cuisine - Barnsley Resort (Div. 1) Clarence Drake - Employee Dining Supervisor - Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta (Div. 2) Azra Zecirovic - Cook - The Westin Buckhead Atlanta (Div. 3) Hazel Swanson - Cook 2 - Hyatt Regency Atlanta (Div. 4) Food & Beverage Employee of the Year Charles "Charlie" M. Brown II - Banquet House Person - The Mansion on Forsyth Park (Div. 1) Diane Sholes - Stewarding Supervisor - Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta (Div. 2) Laura Sanchez - Barista - The Westin Atlanta Perimeter North (Div. 3) Erica Gantt - Head Bartender in the Georgian Room - Sea Island (Div. 4) Roomkeeper of the Year – presented by United Service Companies Ruth Phun - Guest Environment Expert - Courtyard Atlanta Duluth / Gwinnett Place (Div. 1) Ferneshia Mathis - Attendant Uniforms (Laundry Department) - The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee (Div. 2) Derrick Joseph - Lead Laundry Attendant - Embassy Suites by Hilton Atlanta at Centennial Olympic Park (Div. 3) Brenda Durham - Room Attendant - Hyatt Regency Atlanta (Div. 4) Guest Services Employee of the Year – presented by AAA Parking Taral Anderson - Night Auditor - Hotel Clermont (Div. 1) John Preston Rooks - Concierge - The St. Regis Atlanta (Div. 2) Traci Waites - Head Concierge - Atlanta Marriott Buckhead Hotel & Conference Center (Div. 3) Michael Allen - Bell Captain - Atlanta Marriott Marquis (Div. 4) Spirit of Hospitality Awards – presented by School of Hospitality - Georgia State University Santresia Coggins - PBX Operator - Embassy Suites by Hilton Atlanta at Centennial Olympic Park Kevin Hicks - Steward - Hilton Atlanta Perimeter Suites William Moore - House Attendant - DoubleTree by Hilton Atlanta NE/Northlake Miguel Ramirez - Bartender (was Banquet Houseman) - The St. Regis Atlanta Lakisheon Stokes - Roomkeeper - Le Meridien Atlanta Perimeter |
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