Oklahoma Hotel and Lodging Association - Event Information

Event Name:
2021 Stars of the Industry Awards

Event Type(s):
Event

Description:
The OHLA presents this Annual Award Competition, which was created to honor the outstanding professionals in Oklahoma’s lodging industry. The awards are presented to individuals and properties that epitomize the service and spirit of our industry. This competition is open to all OHLA member properties; independent or franchise, and their employees. All award recipients will be judged for work performed in the calendar year 2020. The Stars of the Industry Awards will be presented at a luncheon during the OHLA Lodging Summit and Vendor Expo.
 

January 14, 2021 - 2:00 pm  -  Stars of the Industry Awards Live - Virtual Live Stream Presentations

OHLA Stars of the Industry Awards has a 20+ year history of honoring outstanding professionals in Oklahoma’s lodging industry. The awards are presented to individuals who epitomize the service and spirit of our industry. If there is ever a year to recognize employees it is this year, as nominations are based on 2020 achievements. Employees have adapted to the ever-changing needs of their property, carrying multiple department responsibilities and all while working harder than ever to keep guests safe and provide a wonderful place to stay.

This year, join our live stream link to watch each award recipient be introduced and accept their prestigious award! Watch below or use the Vimeo link here.

 



Award Recipients:
Each award recipient's general manager having an award recipient will be contacted before January 1st to be informed and given instructions of next steps. 

Nominees:
This year, each employee who was nominated by the deadline will receive their certificate and Stars Nominee lapel pin by mail at their property. Everyone is also encouraged to watch the live stream to see mention of their nomination during the live stream.
 

 


Event Date:
1/14/2021

Location:
Embassy Suites by Hilton Oklahoma City Northwest Expressway
3233 NW Expressway
Oklahoma City, OK 73112

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Contact Person:
Linda Etherton
(phone: (405) 942-6462)

Details:

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Categories and Criteria

Outstanding General Manager of the Year
For the sake of this competition, Large property is defined as any property with 151 rooms or more.
The Outstanding General Manager of the Year award provides properties with an opportunity to recognize a general manager who has demonstrated outstanding contributions of leadership, service, and community and/or civic affairs. The nominees are judged on:

  • Leadership & Employee Relations        

  • Exceeds/Meets Management Objectives

  • Consideration of Guest Needs        

  • Industry & Community Involvement

  • Certification & Continued Education

Certification designations such as Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) will be given additional consideration, but are not mandatory.
This category presented in partnership with

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Outstanding Lodging Employee of the Year 
This category is open to management and non-management positions and gives OH&LA member lodging properties the chance to recognize an employee from any department who goes above and beyond normal job responsibilities. Nominees are judged on: 

  • Professionalism & Teamwork        

  • Performance Above & Beyond

  • Unusual Contributions to Service        

  • Meeting Guest Needs

  • Community Involvement            

  • Certifications & Continued Education

Certification designations will be given additional consideration, but are not mandatory.
This category presented in partnership with


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Outstanding Manager/Supervisor of the Year - Back of the House
This management only nominee may come from any area of the hotel. The Outstanding Manager/Supervisor of the Year award recognizes exceptional performance by any salaried manager or hourly supervisor (e.g., food & beverage, chefs, kitchens, etc). Nominees are judged on:

  • Outstanding and Unusual Service to Guests        

  • Meets Management Objectives

  • Respected by Co-Workers            

  • Community Involvement

  • Unique contributions to property management (new strategies, initiatives, etc.)     

  • Certifications & Continued Education  

Certification designations will be given additional consideration, but are not mandatory. Owners and General Managers are not eligible for this category.

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Outstanding Manager/Supervisor of the Year - Front of the House
This management only nominee may come from any area of the hotel. The Outstanding Manager/Supervisor of the Year- Front of the House award recognizes exceptional performance by any salaried manager or hourly supervisor (e.g., convention services, food & beverage, front desk, sales, accounting, housekeeping, etc). Nominees are judged on:

  • Outstanding and Unusual Service to Guests        

  • Meets Management Objectives

  • Respected by Co-Workers            

  • Community Involvement

  • Unique contributions to property management (new strategies, initiatives, etc.)     

  • Certifications & Continued Education  

Certification designations will be given additional consideration, but are not mandatory. Owners and General Managers are not eligible for this category.
This category presented in partnership with


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Food & Beverage Employee of the Year
This category provides properties with an opportunity to recognize exemplary professionalism and exceptional service by an employee in a non-management position. Nominees are judged on:

  • Outstanding Service to Property            

  • Outstanding Service to Guest Needs        

  • Performance Above & Beyond            

  • Initiative

  • Certifications & Continued Education

Certification designations will be given additional consideration, but are not mandatory.
This category presented in partnership with

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Outstanding Front Desk Employee of the Year
This category provides properties with an opportunity to recognize exemplary professionalism and exceptional service by an employee in a non-management position. Nominees are judged on:

  • Outstanding Service to Property            

  • Outstanding Service to Guest Needs        

  • Performance Above & Beyond            

  • Initiative

  • Certifications & Continued Education

Certification designations will be given additional consideration, but are not mandatory.
This category presented in partnership with

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Outstanding Roomkeeper of the Year
This category provides properties with an opportunity to recognize exemplary professionalism and exceptional service by an employee in a non-management position. Nominees are judged on:

  • Outstanding Service to Property            

  • Outstanding Service to Guest Needs        

  • Performance Above & Beyond            

  • Initiative

  • Certifications & Continued Education

Certification designations will be given additional consideration, but are not mandatory.
This category presented in partnership with

PARTNERSHIP AVAILABLE FOR THIS CATEGORY


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Outstanding OKWIL Leader of the Year
This award is given to a female hospitality professional who serves as a leader and role model within the hotel community.This nominee MUST be a member of AH&LA and OKWIL. This award is not about your amount of experience or your title, but rather how you've spent your time in the industry. Candidates should describe noteworthy accomplishments, leadership roles, volunteer positions and personal initiative. Nominees can be either self or peer-nominated. Nominees are judged on:

  • Outstanding Volunteer Service to Property         
  • Outstanding Volunteer Service to Community
  • Leadership Roles in the Hotel Industry               
  • Service as a Role Model or Mentor to others in industry
  • ​Accomplishments                                            
  • ​Examples of being a Community/Industry "Difference-Maker"

​Certification designations will be given additional consideration, but are not mandatory.
This category presented in partnership with

PARTNERSHIP AVAILABLE FOR THIS CATEGORY


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Heart of Hospitality Award
Hospitality is the quality of disposition of receiving and treating others in a warm, friendly generous manner. It's an honest appreciation for a person and recognition of their real needs. The Heart of Hospitality Award celebrates a hospitality industry individual who, by their enthusiastic dedication and charitable acts, has left a profound and recognizable mark on guests, peers, industry and/or their local community. The OH&LA is proud to announce this new award category open to an individual or group of individuals. Critera:

  • A unique employee who to guests, associates and strangers, is the best possible example of hospitality
  • Someone who creates opportunities to serve others
  • Encourages and inspires others to have a spirit of hospitality
  • Continually supports all aspects of the hotel's operation even those that fall outside his or her specific job title.

​Certification designations will be given additional consideration, but are not mandatory.

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Who May Submit Nominations?
Official nomination forms are mailed to all OH&LA member-owners, general managers and human resource managers. 

We urge each member property to nominate one employee in each category. Although properties may submit only one employee nomination per category, a property may enter a different employee in each category if they wish. Candidates nominated in previous years are eligible for re-nomination. Please DO NOT have several members of your management team submit duplicate nominations for employees. All entries must include a quality head and shoulder color photo of the nominee (preferably electronic, .tif or .jpg.) All entries must be postmarked or received by the OH&LA office on or before November 27, 2020. Entries received after November 27th will not be considered. For more information, please call Linda Etherton at 405-942-6462. Do NOT send nominations directly to AH&LA.

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Local Award Judging
The OH&LA receives nominations, including support materials, and verifies that all entries are in compliance with state entry rules and that the property’s member status is current. All categories will be judged and award recipients will be selected by an impartial panel of judges comprised of tourism and lodging industry professionals as well as hospitality industry academia. All judges are ineligible, as are their employees or properties.

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Award Presentations 
All award recipients will be kept confidential until they are announced at the Stars of the Industry Awards luncheon, which is held to honor all nominees and award recipients. Participating properties are encouraged to bring each of their nominees to the awards presentation for stage and certificate recognition. The award luncheon is scheduled for Wednesday, January 13, 2021. All nominees will be announced to the stage and will be presented a Certificate of Recognition and a Star of the Industry lapel pin recognizing their nomination. All award recipients will also receive a framed award and commemorative photo, as well as recognition in local and state trade publications.

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National Recognition
Not only will award recipients receive state and local recognition, but each recipient's name will be submitted to the American Hotel & Lodging Association for consideration in the national "Stars of the Industry Awards" competition. You may submit nominees for additional AH&LA achievement awards not listed in OH&LA's competition by contacting Olivia Klipa at oklipa@ahla.com. National winners will be notified by the AH&LA, and will receive a commemorative award during a major AH&LA event next year.

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Compliance with OH&LA and AH&LA Entry Rules
Simply follow the rules and criteria. Complete one official nomination form per employee or property. All award recipients are judged for outstanding accomplishments in calendar year 2020. For each category nominated, explain in detail why this nomination should be considered. For the benefit of your nominee, please remember to provide details and specific examples that support the category’s criteria. Any support materials that substantiate the nomination, such as photos, guest comment cards or letters, news clippings, company newsletters, booklets, and/or other examples must be submitted in an organized, easy-to-judge format.  All entries must include a quality head and shoulder color photo of the nominee (preferably electronic, .tif or .jpg.). If not submitting online, you may email digital photos to Linda@okrestaurants.com. Although we appreciate nominations that are professionally prepared and submitted, all judging is based solely on the merit of the nominee and not whether the nomination was prepared by a professional marketing firm. Do NOT send nominations directly to AH&LA. No binders please. All materials submitted become the property of OH&LA and will not be returned. Each property submitting nominations must be an OH&LA member in good standing. Properties may submit only one employee nomination per category, although a property may enter employees in each category if they wish. All entries must be received by the OH&LA office on or before November 27, 2020. Entries received after November 27 will not be considered. Nominations sent directly to AH&LA will not be considered.

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Tips for Submitting an Award-Winning Nomination

  • Read the rules in their entirety.

  • Complete the online nomination by the deadline. 

  • Contact the OH&LA if you’re unclear on any portion of the instructions.

  • Identify the proper category for each of your nominees.

  • Submit nominee information for accomplishments realized in the required year (2020) and based on the category’s specific criteria and judging elements.

  • READ THE CRITERIA AND USE SPECIFICS WHEN ANSWERING ALL THE POINTS OF CRITERIA! It is not enough just to state that the employee is “outstanding.”

  • List any hotel or community awards that the employee has earned and currently retains.

  • Include industry certifications the employee has earned and currently retains, plus how they have dedicated the last year to continuing their industry education. 

  • Submit support materials to further substantiate your nominees qualifications.

  • Remember, it takes more than a simple paragraph to sum up the traits and accomplishments of a Star of the Industry! Unsubstantiated nominations have a lower chance of being selected as the most outstanding nominee.

  • All nominations must include submission of an electronic head and shoulder color photo of the nominee. 

  • Before submitting your nomination, read the category’s criteria and judging elements once more to make sure you have compiled a complete nomination.

  • Submit your nomination(s) to the OH&LA office before the specified deadline.

  • Register your key staff and nominees for the Stars of the Industry awards luncheon on Wednesday, January 13, 2021.

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1/14/2021




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