Nominations 2023 Stars of the Industry Awards

Event

9/30/2022 - 12/19/2022

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Central

River Spirit Casino Resort
8330 Riverside Pkway
Tulsa, OK 74137

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Lacey Pierson
(phone: (405) 942-6462)

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• Categories and Criteria

  • Outstanding General Manager

  • Outstanding Lodging Employee - Small Property

  • Outstanding Lodging Employee - Large Property

  • Outstanding Manager/Supervisor of the Year - Front of the House

  • Outstanding Manager/Supervisor of the Year - Back of the House

  • Outstanding Food & Beverage Employee of the Year

  • Outstanding Front Desk Employee of the Year

  • Outstanding Roomkeeper of the Year

  • Outstanding OKWIL Leader of the Year

  • Outstanding Heart of Hospitality Award

• Who May Submit Nominations?

• Local Award Judging

• Award Presentations

• National Recognition

• Compliance with OHLA Entry Rules

• Tips for Submitting an Award-Winning Nomination

• Download the Stars Nomination PDF Form 

Categories and Criteria

Outstanding General Manager of the Year
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 - Small Property
For the sake of this competition, Small property is defined as any property with 150 or less rooms.
This category is open to management and non-management positions and gives OHLA 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 is presented in partnership with


Outstanding Lodging Employee of the Year - Large Property

For the sake of this competition, Large property is defined as any property with 151 rooms or more.
This category is open to management and non-management positions and gives OHLA 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 is 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  

Back of House Includes: Accounting, Engineering & Facilities, Housekeeping & Room Operations, Human Resources, Kitchen & Stewarding, Purchasing & Warehouse

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



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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  

Front of House Includes: Guest Services, Front Desk & Reservations, Valet, Bell, Transportation, Restaurant, Coffee Shop, Cafe, Lounging/Bar, Spa, Sales, Convention Services, Catering, Banquets, & Night Audit. 

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

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Outstanding 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 is 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 is 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 is presented in partnership with


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OKWIL Outstanding 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 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 the industry

• ​Accomplishments                                            

• ​Examples of being a Community/Industry "Difference-Maker"

• Certifications & Continued Education

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


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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. Criteria: 

• 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.

• Serves the community in which they live and/or work

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

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Who May Submit Nominations?
Official nomination forms are mailed to all OHLA 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 OHLA office on or before December 19, 2022. Entries received by the deadline will receive one (1) extra point toward each of their nominee's total scores. Entries received after December 19th will not be considered. For more information, please call Lacey Pierson at 405-942-6462. Do NOT send nominations directly to AHLA.

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Local Award Judging
The OHLA 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, February 1, 2023. 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
After the OHLA state award program concludes, any property or award recipient whose property is a member of AHLA is encouraged to submit online directly to AHLA for consideration in the national award program. Due to changes in the AHLA categories and guidelines, OHLA no longer submits recipients for national consideration. If you'd like to submit to AHLA, click here.

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Compliance with OHLA 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 2022. 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 Lacey@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. No binders please. All materials submitted become the property of OHLA and will not be returned. Each property submitting nominations must be an OHLA 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 OHLA office on or before December 19, 2022. Entries received after December 19 will not be considered. 

OHLA will accept nominations with and without detailed information about why you are nominating an employee. Please note that although it is not mandatory to complete the form’s “Official Nomination Explanation” field for your nominee, the chance of your nominee receiving the highest consideration depends on this information. If your nominee is selected, OHLA may reach out for more information regarding the nominee for award ceremony purposes.

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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 OHLA 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 (2022) and based on the category’s specific criteria and judging elements.

• READ THE CRITERIA AND USE SPECIFICS WHEN ANSWERING ALL THE POINTS OF THE 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 continue their industry education. 

• Submit support materials to further substantiate your nominee's 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 the 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 OHLA website before the specified deadline.

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Click on the icon next to the date(s) to add to your calendar:
9/30/2022 - 12/19/2022