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The California Hotel & Lodging Association Recognizes
Stars of the Industry; Tim Bridwell Inducted
Into the CH&LA Hall of Fame
SANTA BARBARA � February 1, 2007 - The California Hotel & Lodging Association announced the Stars of the Industry award winners at the Fess Parker�s Doubletree Resort Hotel in Santa Barbara. The Stars of the Industry awards, presented by USA TODAY, were given for employee, manager, and general manager of the year, as well as the lodging property achievement awards for community service, guest relations, and the environmental category of good earthkeeping. 

The Outstanding Lodging Employee of the Year award recognizes an employee of a CH&LA member lodging property who goes above and beyond normal job responsibilities. Nominees are judged on outstanding and unusual service to the property, to the guests, and to the community. The winners were Ms. Terry Henlin, Front Desk Agent/Guest Services, The Dolphin Bay Hotel, Shell Beach; Ms. Amabel Luna, Room Service Server, Four Seasons, Silicon Valley, Palo Alto; and Mr. Raymundo Duarte, Bakery Supervisor, Fess Parker�s Doubletree Resort, Santa Barbara. 

The Outstanding Manager of the Year award recognizes exceptional performance by a supervisory employee to their subordinates, to guests, and to  the community. The winners were Ms. Barbara Rnjak, Resident Manager, Woodfords Inn, Markleeville; Ms. Laura Wu Poochigian, Assistant Director of Finance, Montage Resort & Spa, Laguna Beach; Ms. Jamie Linton, Assistant Front Office Manager, Hyatt Regency Orange County; and Ms. Ahuna Lin, Payroll Manager, Fess Parker�s Doubletree Resort, Santa Barbara. 

Outstanding General Manager of the Year award winners were Mr. John V. Narigi, Vice President & General Manager, Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa and Ms. Kathleen Cochran, General Manager, Loews Coronado Bay Resort, Coronado. 

A Community Service Award is given for a program that demonstrates to residents that the individual property is responsive to the local community. Examples include campaigns to benefit local or national service organizations or charities, service to any part of the community through a special project, and joint undertakings with community groups for the benefit of the area. Community Service Awards were given to the Chancellor Hotel on Union Square, San Francisco; the Robinson Rancheria Casino & Hotel, Nice; and the Hotel Nikko, San Francisco. 

A Guest Relations Award is given for programs that develop a climate conducive to new or repeat business, create goodwill among guests, provide special services, reverse negative public relations situations, or effectively solve guest complaints. Guest Relations Award winners were Glorietta Bay Inn, Coronado and Disney�s Grand California Hotel and Spa, Anaheim.  

Good Earthkeeping awards recognize lodging properties that have developed a culture toward integrating environmental management practices that improve everyday operations and the bottom line, while maintaining quality service and meeting guest expectations. The program must demonstrate success in one or more of the following areas: energy conservation, solid waste reduction, effluents and emissions, water conservation, purchasing and business issues. Good Earthkeeping Awards were given to the Chancellor Hotel on Union Square, San Francisco and the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, San Diego. 

�The California Hotel & Lodging Association is very proud of these award winning members,� said James O. Abrams, President & CEO of CH&LA. �Our congratulations go out to these employees and properties for their excellent and noteworthy contributions to the industry.� 

Also Tim Bridwell, CHA, Area Vice President of Hilton Hotels Corporation was inducted into the CH&LA Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame award is CH&LA�s most prestigious honor, presented to California hoteliers or industry executives recognized for outstanding contributions of leadership, service, and professionalism to the California lodging industry and the community at large. 

Tim Bridwell, CHA was the 20th recipient of the CH&LA Hall of Fame award. As Area Vice President of Hilton Hotels Corporation, with oversight responsibilities for Hilton-managed Doubletree and Hilton properties in Central and Northern California, Tim was honored for his devotion of time and talent in strengthening the lodging industry. Tim is currently a Commissioner and Executive Committee Member of the California Travel & Tourism Commission and has been an active member of the CH&LA Board of Directors since 1994, and was CH&LA's Chairperson in 1999. Tim has also represented California as a director for CH&LA�s national affiliate, the American Hotel & Lodging Association, as well as chaired AH&LA�s Sales & Marketing Committee. In Santa Barbara, Tim has also served as an Officer/Director of the Santa Barbara Region Chamber of Commerce, as the President of the Board of Directors for the Santa Barbara Conference & Visitors Bureau and Film Commission from 2003 to 2005, and as Cabinet Chair for the Santa Barbara United Way.  

Tim was also named Outstanding General Manager of the Year in 2003 by CH&LA�s national affiliate, the American Hotel & Lodging Association, specifically for his participatory leadership style of more than 400 employees that resulted in low staff turnover rates, increased guest loyalty scores, and higher profitability levels. 

The proceeds from this year�s Hall of Fame event, including a generous $5,000 contribution from Hilton Hotels Corporation in Tim�s name and underwriting from USA Today, benefited the CH&LA Education Foundation. Additional sponsorships from Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard, PSAV Presentation Services, Kaleidoscope Flowers, Jordanos, and the Greater Santa Barbara Lodging Association and a very successful silent auction of items donated by CH&LA members, all benefited the CH&LA Education Foundation. 

�Tim�s dedication of both time and effort on behalf of the hospitality industry sets an example to all others in the industry," said James O. Abrams, President & CEO of CH&LA. �It�s an honor to induct such an exemplary lodging industry professional into the CH&LA Hall of Fame.� 

The California Hotel & Lodging Association (CH&LA) is the largest state lodging industry trade association in the country. Its 1,600 members comprise approximately 175,000 guest rooms, consisting of hotels, motels, bed and breakfast inns, guest ranches, resorts, spas, condominium rentals, timeshares, and vacation home rentals located throughout California. CH&LA�s mission is to be the indispensable resource for communicating and protecting the rights and interests of the California lodging industry, for providing educational training and value programs for all segments of the industry, and for supporting strategic alliances to promote the value of California tourism and travel. Sacramento-based CH&LA has been representing California�s lodging industry for more than a century. CH&LA is on the web at www.calodging.com

Contact:

Jim Abrams
(916) 444-5780 
[email protected] 

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Also See: Don Johnson, President & CEO of Vagabond Franchise System, Inc. Inducted Into the California Hotel & Lodging Association Hall of Fame / December 2005
Michael K. Handlery the 18th Recipient of the California Hotel & Lodging Association Hall of Fame Award; Honored for Tireless Support of the Lodging Industry / February 2005
California Hotel & Lodging Association Names Kim Akers, General Manager, Glorietta Bay Inn in Coronado, the Outstanding General Manager of the Year / March 2006

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