Industry’s Top honor, North Star Award, introduced to Sandra Hudgins, Sonesta Select Chattanooga at Hamilton Place & President, CEO of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Ballotti receives 2nd Annual Arne Sorenson Social Impact Leadership Award.
LOS ANGELES – The AHLA Foundation 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 help the AHLA Foundation applications which might be serving to the business recruit and retain the celebrities of tomorrow.
Each 12 months, the Night of a Thousand Stars gala celebrates the lodge business’s most essential VIPs – the property-level expertise that makes the business so distinctive. Throughout the night, business leaders commemorated the 2023 Stars of the Industry Award winners and the people that embody the spirit of hospitality, whereas elevating important funds to help Foundation applications.
“The Night of a Thousand Stars Gala showcases the amazing and passionate women and men who make hotels feel like home and move our industry forward. So much of their work is behind the scenes, and this is a wonderful opportunity to give them the praise and recognition they deserve,” mentioned Anna Blue, President of the AHLA Foundation. “The overwhelming support the hotel industry’s philanthropic arm received at this event will directly impact lives and the future of our industry for the better.”
As a part of the celebration, President & CEO of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Geoff Ballotti turned the second ever recipient of the Arne Sorenson Social Impact Leadership Award for his extraordinary efforts to advance constructive societal change.
“Geoff – much like Arne – is a true embodiment of all the good that hospitality represents. His empathy, his accessibility and his commitment to doing the right thing is what makes him one of our industry’s greatest leaders,” mentioned AHLA President and CEO Chip Rogers. “The story of his success, from dishwasher to CEO of the world’s largest hotel franchisor, is inspirational – as is his dedication to ensuring the success of future hotel leaders. I am lucky to call Geoff a colleague and friend, and it fills me with pride to honor him with this award.”
The important funds raised assist Foundation beneficiaries akin 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 along with her expertise coaching that she now applies to her lodge job. See her story right here.
Several business organizations had 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 support the work the AHLA Foundation does to build careers, improve lives, and strengthen the lodging industry. Tonight’s distinguished winners and finalists, including our very own Katie Ward, bring their passion for what they do to work each day and create unforgettable experiences for guests across the country. We are honored to be here tonight to celebrate these incredibly talented leaders,” mentioned Kevin Jacobs, CFO & President, Global Development, Hilton and Presenting Sponsor.
“Qwick and the AHLA Foundation have a shared vision to create a stronger industry workforce, which is why we are honored to again sponsor Night of a Thousand Stars. This important event not only provides the industry an opportunity to acknowledge those that make it great, but the funds raised help all of us to empower more people to work in hospitality,” mentioned Jamie Baxter, Co-Founder & CEO of Qwick and Presenting Sponsor.
The basis additionally introduced the return of The Shining Star Award – it honors an individual or group that has gone above and past to advance the Foundation’s mission of serving to folks construct careers, enhance their lives, and strengthen the lodging business. The heroic employees of the Hyatt Regency DFW International Airport obtained this award for his or her anti-human trafficking work.
AHLA’s 2023 Stars of the Industry winners had been honored for his or her service to the business:
- North Star Award Winner: Sandra Hudgins, Laundry Attendant, Sonesta Select Chattanooga at Hamilton Place, Chattanooga, TN
- North Star Award Finalists: Sandra Hudgins, Laundry Attendant, Sonesta Select Chattanooga at Hamilton Place, Chattanooga, TN Azhar Mushtaq, Task Force Manager, Extended Stay America, Charlotte, NC Oreste (Rusty) Pinera, Overnight Operations Manager, Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, Orlando, FL
- Outstanding General Manager of the Year (Full Service): Katie Ward, Embassy Suites Minneapolis Airport, Bloomington, MN
- Outstanding General Manager of the Year (Select Service): Harold Daniels, Travelodge by WH, Memphis, TN
- Paving The Way Award: Rachel Moniz, Principal & Chief Operating Officer, HEI Hotels & Resorts, Norwalk, CO
- Stevan Porter Emerging Hospitality Leader of the Year: Madelyn Dingam, Marketing Manager, Cliff House Maine, Cape Neddick, ME
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