Trade’s High honor, North Star Award, offered to Sandra Hudgins, Sonesta Choose Chattanooga at Hamilton Place & President, CEO of Wyndham Inns & Resorts Ballotti receives 2nd Annual Arne Sorenson Social Affect Management Award.
LOS ANGELES – The AHLA Basis raised a document $1.2 million at its fifth annual gala to have a good time winners and up and coming hospitality tremendous stars, whereas elevating funds to assist the AHLA Basis applications which might be serving to the business recruit and retain the celebs of tomorrow.
Every year, the Evening of a Thousand Stars gala celebrates the resort business’s most necessary VIPs – the property-level expertise that makes the business so distinctive. All through the night, business leaders commemorated the 2023 Stars of the Trade Award winners and the people that embody the spirit of hospitality, whereas elevating vital funds to assist Basis applications.
“The Evening of a Thousand Stars Gala showcases the superb and passionate men and women who make resorts really feel like dwelling and transfer our business ahead. A lot of their work is behind the scenes, and this can be a fantastic alternative to present them the reward and recognition they deserve,” mentioned Anna Blue, President of the AHLA Basis. “The overwhelming assist the resort business’s philanthropic arm acquired at this occasion will instantly influence lives and the way forward for our business for the higher.”
As a part of the celebration, President & CEO of Wyndham Inns & Resorts Geoff Ballotti turned the second ever recipient of the Arne Sorenson Social Affect Management Award for his extraordinary efforts to advance constructive societal change.
“Geoff – very similar to Arne – is a real embodiment of all the nice that hospitality represents. His empathy, his accessibility and his dedication to doing the precise factor is what makes him considered one of our business’s biggest leaders,” mentioned AHLA President and CEO Chip Rogers. “The story of his success, from dishwasher to CEO of the world’s largest resort franchisor, is inspirational – as is his dedication to making sure the success of future resort leaders. I’m fortunate to name Geoff a colleague and pal, and it fills me with satisfaction to honor him with this award.”
The very important funds raised assist Basis beneficiaries similar to Asia Magee, a graduate of the Empowering Youth Program in collaboration with Café Reconcile. Asia labored with Kimberly Chavis, a curriculum and coaching specialist at Café Reconcile, who helped Asia together with her abilities coaching that she now applies to her resort job. See her story right here.
A number of business organizations have been additionally central to the night’s success together with two presenting sponsors, Hilton and Qwick, who sponsored the occasion on the highest ranges.
“Hilton is proud to assist the work the AHLA Basis does to construct careers, enhance lives, and strengthen the lodging business. Tonight’s distinguished winners and finalists, together with our very personal Katie Ward, carry their ardour for what they do to work every day and create unforgettable experiences for company throughout the nation. We’re honored to be right here tonight to have a good time these extremely gifted leaders,” mentioned Kevin Jacobs, CFO & President, International Improvement, Hilton and Presenting Sponsor.
“Qwick and the AHLA Basis have a shared imaginative and prescient to create a stronger business workforce, which is why we’re honored to once more sponsor Evening of a Thousand Stars. This necessary occasion not solely gives the business a possibility to acknowledge people who make it nice, however the funds raised assist all of us to empower extra individuals to work in hospitality,” mentioned Jamie Baxter, Co-Founder & CEO of Qwick and Presenting Sponsor.
The inspiration additionally introduced the return of The Shining Star Award – it honors an individual or group that has gone above and past to advance the Basis’s mission of serving to individuals construct careers, enhance their lives, and strengthen the lodging business. The heroic workers of the Hyatt Regency DFW Worldwide Airport acquired this award for his or her anti-human trafficking work.
AHLA’s 2023 Stars of the Trade winners have been honored for his or her service to the business:
- North Star Award Winner: Sandra Hudgins, Laundry Attendant, Sonesta Choose Chattanooga at Hamilton Place, Chattanooga, TN
- North Star Award Finalists: Sandra Hudgins, Laundry Attendant, Sonesta Choose Chattanooga at Hamilton Place, Chattanooga, TN Azhar Mushtaq, Activity Power Supervisor, Prolonged Keep America, Charlotte, NC Oreste (Rusty) Pinera, In a single day Operations Supervisor, Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, Orlando, FL
- Excellent Basic Supervisor of the Yr (Full Service): Katie Ward, Embassy Suites Minneapolis Airport, Bloomington, MN
- Excellent Basic Supervisor of the Yr (Choose Service): Harold Daniels, Travelodge by WH, Memphis, TN
- Paving The Method Award: Rachel Moniz, Principal & Chief Working Officer, HEI Inns & Resorts, Norwalk, CO
- Stevan Porter Rising Hospitality Chief of the Yr: Madelyn Dingam, Advertising and marketing Supervisor, Cliff Home Maine, Cape Neddick, ME
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