2011 GHLA Stars of the Lodging Industry Celebration
On March 3, 2011 the Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association (GHLA) welcomed more than 500 hoteliers to an industry-wide celebration at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta to pay tribute to the finest employees and properties in Georgia’s lodging industry. Representatives from the region’s top hotels attended – along with their honorees for this statewide awards recognition program. The purpose of this program is to provide the lodging industry with an outlet to bestow recognition to lodging industry employees from the front of the house to the heart of the house.
"It is a thrill to gather representatives from our industry together each year to pay tribute to the outstanding men, women and properties who make up Georgia's dynamic lodging industry," says Jim Sprouse, Executive Director of GHLA. "GHLA's Stars of the Lodging Industry Celebration provides us the chance to publicly recognize the stellar performances of the men and women who serve in so many capacities to provide exceptional service to our state's guests." 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 coming out in large numbers to celebrate their accomplishments. As a special treat for attendees, GHLA's entertainment for the celebration luncheon featured musical perfomers who work in a variety of staff positions with member hotels! GHLA received a total of 190 nominations were submitted by 53 properties. 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 six property award categories and eight employee award categories. During GHLA’s March luncheon celebration, every nominee was recognized in front of their peers and 43 award winners were named. Below is a list of the winners named in each award category. These people and properties will now serve as Georgia’s delegates for the nationwide Stars of the Lodging Industry Awards program managed by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA). National awards will be bestowed by AH&LA during the summer of 2011. GHLA extends our sincere appreciation to the generous Platinum Level Sponsors who made many of the elements of this event possible: Hyatt Regency Atlanta, AAA Parking, Shepard Exposition Services, Swank Audio Visuals, and SYSCO. And the Winners Are: Below are the properties and individuals honored at GHLA’s Stars of the Lodging Industry Celebration March 3, 2011. These people were chosen from 190 nominations submitted. Property-Wide AwardsOutstanding Guest Relations Award Best Western Evans Hotel (Div. 1) Omni Hotel at CNN Center (Div. 3) Outstanding Special Event Award for One-Time Only Event W Atlanta - Buckhead (Div. 2) Marriott Atlanta Airport Gateway (Div. 3) Outstanding Special Event Award for Recurring Events - presented by InStar Services Group Barnsley Gardens Resort (Div. 1) St. Regis Atlanta (Div. 2) Hyatt Regency Atlanta (Div. 3) Outstanding Community Service Award - Presented by Gas South LLC Sheraton Gateway Hotel Atlanta Airport (Div. 2) Hilton Atlanta (Div. 3) Good Earthkeeping Award The Ellis Hotel (Div. 1) Evergreen Marriott Conference Resort (Div. 2) InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta (Div. 3) Personnel AwardsGeneral Manager of the Year Award – presented by Georgia Power Kanta Kondur, General Manager - Best Western Evans Hotel (Div. 1) Simon Rusconi, General Manager - St. Regis Atlanta (Div. 2) Michael Giamundo, Area General Manager - JW Marriott Buckhead (Div. 3) Bill Henderson, General Manager - The Westin Atlanta Airport - Interstate Atlanta Airport, LLC (Div. 4) Manager of the Year Anguel Gulev, Controller - Barnsley Gardens Resort (Div. 1) Kelly Ramos, Director of Finance - W Atlanta Downtown (Div. 2) Todd Thompson, Executive Chef - JW Marriott Buckhead (Div. 3) Christine Barnett, Senior Sales Manager - Marriott Atlanta Perimeter Center (Div. 4) Anthony Williams, Director of Grounds - Evergreen Marriott Conference Resort (Resorts Division) Stevan Porter Emerging Hospitality Leader of the Year Erica Thomas, Lead Bartender - Embassy Suites Hotel - Atlanta Airport (Div. 2) Stacey Greenwald, Culinary Supervisor - W Atlanta Hotel - Perimeter (Div. 3) Sabrina Hammond, Human Resources Coordinator - Loews Atlanta Hotel (Div. 4) Administrative Employee of the Year Marlene Seaton, Group Rooms Coordinator - Hyatt Regency Suites Atlanta Northwest (Div. 2) Yvonne Butcher, Catering Cooridnator - Sheraton Suites Galleria - Atlanta (Div. 3) Heather Snover, Executive Administrative Assistant to the General Manager - The Ritz-Carlton Buckhead (Div. 4) Support Department Employee of the Year presented by United Service Companies David Harper, Lead Massage Therapist - Barnsley Gardens Resort (Div. 1) Mary Menefee, Breakfast Host - Hampton Inn Atlanta Cumberland Mall NW (Div. 2) Raheem Rashad, Loss Prevention Supervisor - Marriott Atlanta Alpharetta (Div. 3) Mike Ward, Assistant Chief Engineer - Marriott Atlanta Northwest (Div. 4) Food Services Employee of the Year – presented by SYSCO Rodney Leachman, Banquet Captain - Embassy Suites Hotel - Atlanta Airport (Div. 2) Gary Wesley, Purchasing Agent - Marriott Atlanta Alpharetta (Div. 3) Percy Farley, Senior Banquet Captain - Omni Hotel at CNN Center (Div. 4) Roomkeeper of the Year – presented by Jani-King of Atlanta Megan Brunson, Roomkeeper - Baymont Inn & Suites Augusta Riverwatch (Div. 1) Lorena Garcia, Room Attendant - St. Regis Atlanta (Div. 2) Geraldine Futrell, Housekeeper - Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center (Div. 3) Ana Maynard, Main Linen Room Attendant - Atlanta Marriott Marquis (Div. 4) Guest Services Employee of the Year Patrick Mobley, Front Office Manager - Best Western PLUS Savannah Historic District (Div. 1) Gustavues Jackson, Bellman and Desk Agent - Hilton Suites Atlanta Perimeter (Div. 2) Constance Garner, Guest Services Agent - Sheraton Gateway Hotel Atlanta Airport (Div. 3) Joe Zachensky, Driver - Grand Hyatt Atlanta (Div. 4) |
|
