| ORLANDO - Thursday, January 25, 2007, at the Wyndham Orlando, the Central
Florida Hotel & Lodging Association held its annual Employee Recognition
Awards celebration. This "Academy Awards" style dinner recognized
hotel employees of the year, in 12 different categories (Administrative,
Bell Person/Concierge, Community Services, Convention Center/Banquet, Culinary,
Engineering, Food & Beverage, Front Office, Housekeeping, Laundry,
Recreational, and Security).
Over 140 nominations were received by CFHLA and each nominee was invited
to attend an exclusive pre-dinner VIP reception featuring Orlando Mayor
Buddy Dyer. Mayor Dyer greeted nominees and took individual photos
with them during the reception.
Following the reception, Mayor Dyer escorted the nominees down a "Red
Carpet" into the ballroom. Over 550 guests attending the dinner stood
along the perimeter of the red carpet, and as if "paparazzi," applauded
and took photos of the nominees as they walked into the ballroom.
Mayor Dyer began the dinner program by reading the City of Orlando's
Proclamation and offering a congratulatory champagne toast to all the evenings'
nominated employees.
"The CFHLA membership enjoys participating in this event. This evening
offers the industry the opportunity to recognize and celebrate the
fine work of its exemplary employees. The program's family scholarship
component further compliments the evening's celebrations," said CFHLA President
Richard Maladecki.
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The 2006 CFHLA Hospitality "Best of the
Best"
are as follows:
DAMARIS ALMONTE
DoubleTree Guest Suites in the WDW Resort
2006 Administrative Employee of the Year
CLARKE ANDREAE
Celebration Hotel
2006 Bell Person/Concierge Employee of the Year
MOLLY E. FORD
Hard Rock Hotel(r) at Universal Orlando(r) Resort
2006 Community Service Employee of the Year
PAUL O'BRIEN
Hilton in the Walt Disney World Resort
2006 Convention Center/Banquet Employee of the Year
MANUELA CEDENO
Orlando World Center Marriott
2006 Culinary Employee of the Year
SCOTT McDOWELL
Orange Lake Resort and Country Club
2006 Engineering Employee of the Year |
IVY BARNES
Grand Bohemian Hotel - Orlando
2006 Food & Beverage Service Employee of the Year
KATHERINE MOORE
International Plaza Resort & Spa
2006 Front Office Employee of the Year
EZEQUIEL (JIMMY) GONZALEZ
Embassy Suites Orlando Airport
2006 Housekeeping Employee of the Year
EMILIA REYES
Hilton in the Walt Disney World Resort
2006 Laundry Employee of the Year
CHRISTIE SANBORN
Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center
Recreational Employee of the Year
CARLOS MIRANDA
Mystic Dunes Resort & Golf Club
2006 Security/Loss Prevention Employee of the Year |
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| Additionally, the following recipients
earned other annual hospitality awards at the CFHLA Hospitality Gala of
December 16th, 2006:
Colin Findley, General Manager, Hilton Garden Inn at SeaWorld International
Center
2006 CFHLA Hotelier of the Year
Donna Stutts, President, VS Publishing Company
2006 CFHLA Allied Member of the Year
Dennis Ward, Chief Engineer, Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress
2006 CFHLA Engineer of the Year
Al Weiss, President of Worldwide Operations for Walt Disney Parks and
Resorts
2006 Charles Andrews Memorial Hospitality Award for Community Leadership |
Hotelier of the Year
Colin Findley
Hilton Garden Inn
SeaWorld International Center |
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Additionally, during the program, CFHLA presented nine $1,000 scholarships
and one $5,000 scholarship to students who are related to an employee of
a CFHLA member hotel.
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The 2006 CFHLA Family Member
Scholarship winners are:
ANGELA CHENG
graduating from Dr. Phillips High School (daughter of Shirley Cheng
of the Hilton in the WDW Resort)
STEVEN CONOLY
attending Edward Waters College (son of Sharmaine Anderson of the Orlando
World Center Marriott)
RANIEL DANTIC
attending Seminole Community College (step-son of John Kress of the
Orlando World Center Marriott)
PREA PERSAUD
attending Rollins College (daughter of Alan Persaud of the Sheraton
Studio City)
VANESSA PINERA
attending Seminole Community College (daughter of Lazaro Brito of the
Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress)
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ERIKA RIVERA
attending Valencia Community College (daughter of Julio Rivera of the
Orlando World Center Marriott)
KALEIGH RUTLEDGE
attending the University of Central Florida (daughter of Kitty Rutledge
of the Gaylord Palms Resort)
GARMAN TSANG
attending University of Florida (daughter of Ai Ching Luk of the Royal
Pacific Resort, a Loews Hotel)
MELANIE VENANT
attending the University of Central Florida (daughter of Melande Venant
of the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress)
The new DHI/CFHLA $5,000 scholarship went to:
Yasmin Rodriguez
attending Valencia Community College (daughter Janee Rodriguez of the
Orlando Airport Marriott) |
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