FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Karlie Hart
Manager, Communications & Marketing
karlie@okrestaurants.com
405-942-6462
Oklahoma Hotel and Lodging Association Honors Outstanding Lodging Employees and Properties
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.— The Annual Stars of the Industry Awards was held at the River Spirit Casino Resort on Monday, February 20. This program, presented by the Oklahoma Hotel & Lodging Association, is designed to honor Oklahoma's outstanding hospitality professionals for their service and commitment to the guest service and hospitality industry. Our partners in support of this lodging award program include Auto-Chlor System, the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, Clearwater Enterprises, CLEAResult, Cox Business Services, Heartland, HDSupply Hospitality Solutions, McGregor Insurance Group, and Fused Topline Solutions.
This year, submissions resulted in over 45 nominees from properties of all sizes among the ten categories – proof of Oklahoma’s outstanding employees and properties. Honorees were each nominated by the owners, General Managers, or Human Resource departments of the recipient's property.
The Stars of the Industry Award recipients are as follows:
Heart of Hospitality
Michelle Iverson, The Ambassador Hotel, Tulsa
Nominees
Novilyn Booker, Riverwind Hotel, Norman
Robert Horey, The Ellison Hotel, Oklahoma City
Jakob Howard, Bradford House, Oklahoma City
Melody Phillips, The Skirvin Hilton Hotel, Oklahoma City
Donna Soirez, Renaissance Waterford, Oklahoma City
Outstanding Front Desk Employee of the Year
Amy Smith, Hyatt Regency, Tulsa
Nominees
Roscoe Buckner, The National, Oklahoma City
Dianna Campbell, Bradford House, Oklahoma City
Emily Guierrez, Residence Inn Airport, Oklahoma City
Charles Higginbottom, Colcord Hotel, Oklahoma City
Matthew Horn, The Skirvin Hilton Hotel, Oklahoma City
Alyssa Perry, Riverwind Hotel, Norman
Outstanding Food & Beverage Employee of the Year
Kevin Kihle, Hotel Indigo, Tulsa
Nominees
Cuc Dinh, Renaissance Waterford Oklahoma City
Lelia Jones, The Skirvin Hilton Hotel, Oklahoma City
Outstanding General Manager of the Year
Matt Cowden, The Ellison Hotel, Oklahoma City
Nominees:
Jason Clark, The Ambassador Hotel, Oklahoma City
Randy McKinley, Fairfield Inn & Suites, Tulsa Arts District
Timothy New, Fairfield Inn & Townplace Suites, Oklahoma City
Chase Rollins, Renaissance Waterford, Oklahoma City
Brenda Stevens, Northwest Inn, Woodward
Outstanding Manager/Supervisor of the Year, Front of House
Jeremiah Rhodes, The Skirvin Hilton Hotel, Oklahoma City
Nominees
Carrie Hathaway, Northwest Inn, Woodward
Angela Milligan, Riverwind Hotel, Norman
Morgan Scott, The National, Oklahoma City
Emma Wood, The Ambassador Hotel, Oklahoma City
Outstanding Manager/Supervisor of the Year, Back of House
Diana Lacobee, Riverwind Hotel, Norman
Nominees
Jessica Hernandez, Renaissance Waterford, Oklahoma City
Joshua Jones, The Ellison Hotel, Oklahoma City
Caleb Stangroom, Bradford House, Oklahoma City
Lisa Vandenberg, The Skirvin Hilton Hotel, Oklahoma City
Outstanding Roomkeeper of the Year
Maria Doss, Riverwind Hotel, Norman
Nominees
Shana Brown, Northwest Inn, Woodward
Kareen Edwards, The Skirvin Hilton Hotel, Oklahoma City
Amanda Hughes, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tulsa
Morgan Johnson, Hyatt Regency, Tulsa
Chelsie Kramer, The Ellison Hotel, Oklahoma City
Maria Llames, Renaissance Waterford, Oklahoma City
Monica Ortega, Springhill Suites, Del City
Outstanding Lodging Employee of Year, Large Property
Tulsi Patel, Hyatt Regency, Tulsa
Nominees
Christina Owens, The Skirvin Hilton Hotel, Oklahoma City
Donnie Wilburn, Renaissance Waterford, Oklahoma City
Outstanding Lodging Employee of Year, Small Property
Brayden Chamberlain, The Ellison Hotel, Oklahoma City
Nominees
Johnathan Campos, Riverwind Hotel, Norman
Sarah Sibley, Bradford House, Oklahoma City
Oklahoma's Women in Lodging (OKWIL) Leader of the Year
Micha Krodel, Bradford House, Oklahoma City
This year, a new award was bestowed to a most deserving steward of hospitality education. The Outstanding Hospitality Educator Award was presented to Kari Bailey with Francis Tuttle Technology Center for her dedication to students in service career hospitality tracks and for taking the lead of the HospitAbilities program over the past 4 years to ensure students of all abilities across Oklahoma are provided an opportunity to work with purpose and gain a valuable set of skills.
Incorporated in 1974, the Oklahoma Hotel & Lodging Association is Oklahoma's trade association for the hotel and lodging industry. The OHLA actively provides advocacy, education and resources for operators and professionals in all types of lodging businesses throughout the state of Oklahoma. The OHLA is a state partner of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and represents $12 billion in business sales, more than $6 billion in guest spending, and $4 billion in hotel industry wages and salaries.
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