2012 GHLA Stars of the Lodging Industry Celebration![]() On March 16, 2012 the Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association (GHLA) welcomed more than 650 hoteliers to an industry-wide celebration at the InterContinental BuckheadAtlanta 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.
"This celebration continues to grow every year and is a testament to the amazing men, women and properties who make up Georgia's lodging industry," says Jim Sprouse, Executive Director of GHLA. "Our members are passionate about recognzing the stellar associates at their properties who deliver excellent service and this event is truly an industry-wide celebration." 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 interjected some fun and humor with industry-related skits performed by local improv actors from Relapse Comedy Theatre. Their performances highlighted the interactive learning platform that is an essential part of the industry training offered by or emcee Andy Stangenberg of Q-Principle. GHLA received a total of 257 nominations submitted by 63 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 46 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: EPIC Response, InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta, PSAV - Presentation Services, and Shepard Exposition Services. Our Event Sponsors were: AAA Parking, Cover Ups Specialty Linen Rentals, Heartland Payment Systems, Martino-White Printing, Parker Young Construction, Reis Birdwhistell Photography, and Your Event Solutions. 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 2012. And the Winners Are: Below are the properties and individuals honored at GHLA’s Stars of the Lodging Industry Celebration March 16, 2012. These people were chosen from 257 nominations submitted. Property-Wide AwardsOutstanding Community Service Award - Presented by Gas South LLC Best Western Evans Hotel (Div. 1) W Atlanta Downtown (Div. 2) Hilton Atlanta (Div. 3) Good Earthkeeping Award The Ellis Hotel (Div. 1) Emory Conference Center Hotel (Div. 2) Hilton Atlanta Airport (Div. 3) Outstanding Guest Relations Award Hilton Garden Inn Savannah Airport (Div. 1) Hilton Suites Atlanta Perimeter (Div. 1) Omni Hotel at CNN Center (Div. 3) Outstanding Special Event Award for One-Time Only Event Renaissance Atlanta Midtown Hotel (Div. 2) Marriott Atlanta Northwest (Div. 3) Outstanding Special Event Award for Recurring Events - presented by Belfor Property Restoration The Mansion on Peachtree (Div. 1) Embassy Suites Hotel - Atlanta Galleria (Div. 2) Loews Atlanta Hotel (Div. 3) Outstanding Technology Innovation Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center (Div. 2) Atlanta Marriott Marquis (Div. 3) Personnel AwardsGeneral Manager of the Year Award – presented by Georgia Power Jeff Fouste, General Manager - Best Western PLUS Savannah Historic District (Div. 1) Brian Mock, General Manager - Hampton Inn Atlanta/Northlake (Div. 2) Frank Phair, General Manager - Embassy Suites Hotel - Atlanta Galleria (Div. 3) Patrick Birchall, General Manager - InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta (Div. 4) Manager of the Year Margie Brown, Housekeeping Manager - Regency Suites Hotel (Div. 1) Houston Vissage, Chef Concierge - The Cloister at Sea Island (Div. 2) Ahmet "Koray" Askin, Concierge Manager - Chateau Elan Winery & Resort (Div. 3) Anthony Henry, Assistant Chief Engineer - InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta (Div. 4) Stevan Porter Emerging Hospitality Leader of the Year - presented by InterContinental Hotels Group Pooja Rao Kondur, Front Desk Clerk - Best Western Evans Hotel (Div. 1) Tommy Beyer, General Manager - Hilton Garden Inn Savannah Airport (Div. 2) Denise Patterson, Food and Beverage Supervisor - JW Marriott Buckhead (Div. 3) Dustin Seraile, Assistant Front Office Manager - Loews Atlanta Hotel (Div. 4) Administrative Employee of the Year Karen Wilson, Executive Assistant - St. Regis Atlanta (Div. 2) Heather Hogan, Human Resources Generalist - Marriott Atlanta Alpharetta (Div. 3) P. Renee Elliott, Reservationist - Hyatt Regency Atlanta (Div. 4) Support Department Employee of the Year presented by United Service Companies Bob Cantelli, Van Driver and Houseperson - Hilton Garden Inn Savannah Airport (Div. 2) Douglas Cunningham, Engineering Coordinator - The Westin Buckhead Atlanta (Div. 3) Peter Gomez, Security Officer - Hyatt Regency Atlanta (Div. 4) Food Services Employee of the Year – presented by SYSCO Tiffany Forrister, Breakfast Attendant - Best Western Evans Hotel (Div. 1) Hiroshi Shimizu, Cook - St. Regis Atlanta (Div. 2) Willie Griffin, Food and Beverage Banquet Houseman - Atlanta Marriott Downtown (Div. 3) Joyce Morgan, AM Culinary Supervisor - The Westin Atlanta Airport - Interstate Atlanta Airport, LLC (Div. 4) Roomkeeper of the Year – presented by Jani-King of Atlanta Jean Harris, Laundry Attendant - Regency Suites Hotel (Div. 1) David Rayner, Houseperson - The Cloister at Sea Island (Div. 2) Mathieu Deoudal, Housekeeping Houseaide - Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center (Div. 3) Marina Palavurova, Room Attendant - Grand Hyatt Atlanta (Div. 4) Guest Services Employee of the Year Cody Rentschler, Guest Service Representative - Best Western PLUS Savannah Historic District (Div. 1) Bridgett Johnson, Guest Service Agent - Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta Airport/Millenium Center (Div. 2) Karen Fountain, Front Desk Supervisor - Embassy Suites Hotel - Atlanta Galleria (Div. 3) Bayan Sabermanesh, Front Office Supervisor - The Ritz-Carlton Buckhead (Div. 4) |
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