The Awards

The Stars of the Industry Waiting to be Taken Home

The evening included the presentation of fourteen Stars of the Industry awards and, of course, the Hall of Fame induction award as well. With the exception of a single award winner, all winners were in attendance to accept their awards.

The Stars of the Industry Ice Sculpture

Ice Sculpture at the Entrance Welcomed Guests

The evening's attendees were greeted by a huge ice sculpture of the Stars of the Industry award with rotating lighting to set the stage with the evening's festivities.

The Stage is Set

The presentation of the Stars of the Industry awards and the Hall of Fame induction was coordinated beautifully at Fess Parker's Doubletree Resort.

The Writing is on the Wall

The Stars of the Industry Award is Projected on the Wall

The Reagan Room at Fess Parker's Doubletree Resort was complete with the award projected on the wall.

CH&LA Chair Kicks Off the Evening

Opening Remarks from Tony Bruno of Disneyland Resort Hotels & Downtown Disney

Tony Bruno, Vice President of Disneyland Resort Hotels & Downtown Disney and CH&LA's Chairperson this year, kicks off the evening with his opening comments and warm welcome to the guests and award winners of the evening.

CH&LA Education Foundation Chair Emcees Award Presentation

Al Sessler, General Manager of Ocean Park Inn Greets Attendees

Al Sessler, CH&LA Education Foundation Chair and General Manager of the Ocean Park Inn on the beach in San Diego emceed the evening's awards presentation which benefited the CH&LA Education Foundation. The evening generated over $35,000 for the CH&LA Education Foundation, including generous donations from USA Today, Hilton Hotels Corporation, and several other generous sponsors.

Outstanding Lodging Employee of the Year, Small Property

Terry Henlin, Front Desk Agent/Guest Services

This 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. Terry Henlin, Front Desk Agent/Guest Services of The Dolphin Bay Hotel in Shell Beach was nominated by her general manager for her responsibility and caring about her hotel - both staff and guests. Terry is the kind of employee who sets up the play pens for an arriving guest and receives many many comment card mentions for her service, and still finds time to volunteer in the community.

Terry is photographed with Jim Abrams, President & CEO of CH&LA and her well-deserved Stars of the Industry Award.

Outstanding Lodging Employee of the Year, Medium Property

Amabel Luna, Room Service Server

This 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. Amabel Luna, Room Service Server at the Four Seasons, Silicon Valley in Palo Alto accepts her award with Timothy Frost and Jim Abrams, President & CEO of CH&LA.

Amabel is very good at her job, which always includes a smile. From always asking if anybody needs help to winning Employee of the Month, Amabel is a Star of the Industry.

Outstanding Lodging Employee of the Year, Large Property

Reymundo Duarte, Bakery Supervisor

This 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. Reymundo, from the Fess Parker's Doubletree Resort in Santa Barbara, accepts his Star of the Industry Award from Jim Abrams, President & CEO of CH&LA.

Reymundo's award nomination went like this:

• 2 cups of hard work
• 2 cups of exceptional performance
• 1 cup of pride
• 1 lb of gratitude
• Dash of humor
• Mix with consistency, dependability, and teamwork
• Sprinkle with magic
• And pour into a heart shaped bowl.

Reymundo is amazing - 2,400 chocolate bread puddings in a couple of hours, working double shifts, and the usual 'no problem' attitude go a long way toward a Star of the Industry for Raymundo Duarte.

Outstanding Manager of the Year, Small Property

Barbara Rnjak, Resident Manager

The Outstanding Manager of the Year award recognizes exceptional performance by a supervisory employee to their subordinates, to guests, and to the community.

This year's winner is Barbara Rnjak, the Resident Manager of the Woodford Inn in Markleeville, which is in the Sierra Nevada mountains. She's a star, for sure. Barbara 'interviews' guests as they make their reservations and check-in, so she can be sure to learn of special occasions the guests are celebrating, if they want their room a particular temperature upon arrival. She handles the good news and bad with grace and is even referred to as "Miss Hospitality".

Owner of the Woodfood Inn, Ted Chavez, accepted the award on her behalf at the Stars of the Industry Awards dinner (pictured with Jim Abrams, Presidnet & CEO of CH&LA).

Outstanding Manager of the Year, Medium Property

Laura Wu Poochigian, Assistant Director of Finance

Laura Wu Poochigian accepts her award from Jim Abrams, President & CEO of CH&LA. Laura does a great job at the Montage Resort & Spa and we have the 14 page nomination entry to prove it, but it's what she does outside the Montage that really distinguishes Laura. As well as growing her hair out to donate 14" of it, Laura is the acting president of Hearts of Montage, the community outreach program of Montage Associates and was chair of this year's food drive that benefited Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County.

Outstanding Manager of the Year, Large Property

Jamie Linton, Assistant Front Office Manager

Jamie is a recent college graduate with an immense amount of energy for guest service at the Hyatt Regency Orange County in Garden Grove. Recently, Jamie drove to Las Vegas to retrieve a laptop that was inadvertently left on a motor coach by a distraught guest. So the guest could make his presentation in the morning, Jamie drove her own car to Las Vegas to pick up the laptop - now that's what we call service.

Jamie accepts her award from Jim Abrams, President & CEO of the California Hotel & Lodging Association.

Outstanding Manager of the Year, Large Property

Ahuna Lin, Payroll Manager

Pictured with Jim Abrams, President & CEO of the California Hotel & Lodging Association is Ahuna Lin, from the Fess Parker's Doubletree Resort in Santa Barbara.

Ahuna is referred to as a master of her position - quite a feat for a Payroll Manager. She has worked here since the opening of the property and has issued over 10,000 W-2 forms. Ahuna is one of those smiling employees, that has a knack for knowing everyone's name and most importantly, getting payroll right - a job that usually only gets attention when something goes wrong.

Outstanding General Manager of the Year, Medium Property

Mr. John V. Narigi, Vice President & General Manager

The Outstanding General Manager of the Year award honors a hotelier who has demonstrated superior professionalism in operating a CH&LA member property and taken a leadership role in the industry by actively participating in association, community, or industry programs. John Narigi, of the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa in Monterey is pictured here accepting his award from Jim Abrams, President & CEO of CH&LA. John is very active in the area and has sat on the Board of no less than eight community organizations in the Monterey area. His community involvement has been referred to as a model of community activism, not only believing he can make a difference, but actually making a difference. In addition to his community service, John is regarded as "the heart of the house" at the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa. His forthright style of doing what he says is a huge asset at the hotel, resulting in unparalleled staff loyalty, a very low turnover, and a guest experience that epitomizes hospitality.

Outstanding General Manager of the Year, Large Property

Kathleen Cochran, General Manager

Kathleen Cochran of the Loews Coronado Bay Resort & Spa is pictured accepting her award from Jim Abrams, Presidnet & CEO of CH&LA. Kathleen is heavily involved in the community - from her development of the Loews Good Neighbor Council in Coronado and involvement in the Pacific Animal Welfare Society, to her concerted effort to deliver two truckloads of household goods, food, and clothing to an orphanage in Mexico, Kathleen is always involved.

At the property this year, Kathleen's leadership was most evident due to what didn't happen. On an immigration protest day, she acted quickly and communicated with her staff to recognize their importance to the property. This translated to only five employees of over 200 affected employees missing work on that particular day - a day in which many other properties in San Diego were severely impacted. She leads by example and takes sheer pleasure in serving people, which shows by her property's 100% participation in the Employee Satisfaction Index - and improved ratings - for each of the last two years.

Community Service Award, Small Property

Chancellor Hotel on Union Square - San Francisco

A Community Service Award is given for a program that demonstrates to residents that the individual property is responsive to the local community.

The Chancellor Hotel on Union Square pretty much does everything in the community they possibly can - they are truly very deserving winners in this category. Wes Tyler, the General Manager of the Chancellor Hotel - who accepts the award, pictured with Jim Abrams, Presidnet &l CEO of CH&LA - has played a big role in his property's award, being a member of the Neighborhood Emergency Response Team, completing the Citizen's Police Academy and as a member of the Police Officer's Association Community Outreach Committee, and receiving the Union Square Business Improvement District Service Award for his - and a I quote - "ceaseless commitment to strengthening communities, for his professional and courteous business demeanor in all business dealings, and his record-breaking attendance of every "Project Homeless Connect" meeting". In addition, the Chancellor has a program for managers to donate their time to community and charitable organizations, gives free lunches to those who vote, matches guest donations to the homeless, and participates in the Mayor's Summer Jobs for Youth program.

Community Service Award, Small Property

Robinson Rancheria Resort & Casino - Nice

For the Robinison Rancheria Resort & Casino, Rubin Rubalcava, a tribal Director and Rod Kellar, Hotel Manager, accepted their Community Service award at the Stars of the Industry Awards dinner.

At Robinson Rancheria, they not only are involved in the community, they back up their good works with their checkbook, having contributed over $300,000 in a state-matching fund for local services, provided over $100,000 in charitable contributions to national organizations, and they also provided donations to over 45 local entities in the nearby area. Add in the chamber of commerce, little league, toy drive commitments, and Robinson Rancheria has done an exceptional job of 'giving back'.

Community Service Award, Large Property

Hotel Nikko - San Francisco

The Hotel Nikko participates in a neighborhood program known as GLIDE, which serves meals to the homeless and needy of the community and provides assistance to the less fortunate. What started as a good public relations program has transformed into a property-wide effort coordinating volunteer hours preparing and serving meals and the 'adoption' of 10 GLIDE families to provide a Christmas Experience and Dinner that has evolved into a year-round program and has become a cohesive part of the hotel's culture and mission statement. The General Manager of the Nikko, Anna Marie Presutti, accepted the award for the Nikko at the Stars of the Industry Awards dinner.

Guest Relations Award, Small Property

Glorietta Bay Inn - Coronado

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.

Holly Shumate, General Manager of the Glorietta Bay Inn accepts her award from Jim Abrams, President & CEO of CH&LA.

The Glorietta Bay Inn won this same award last year and have won this award nationally nine of the last ten years, in the AH&LA Stars of the Industry Awards. This property should be in the dictionary under Guest Relations. A 97% 'excellent' rating of staff hospitality on all response cards and a returning guest rate of 51% this past year are just two factors of many. Programs aside -and there are many - the property credits the intangible of an empowered, enthusiastic, and energetic staff as the discerning characteristic that keeps it winning this award.

Guest Relations Award, Large Property

Disney's Grand California Hotel and Spa - Anaheim

Disney's Grand Californian Hotel also provided award winning guest service this past year. Of course, all of the property's service is award winning, however, Annie Nguyen, a Concierge at the property, who accepted the award at the Stars of the Industry Awards dinner, representing the service for which the property won. (Annie is pictured with Jim Abrams, President & CEO of CH&LA.) Annie was mentioned in several of the guest comment cards included in the award nomination and was mentioned specifically in the award entry. From one guest's dream of having a job like hers because she touches people's hearts to the "Pirate's Treasure" under the pillow that she coordinated for a little guest who had lost one of his teeth that day, Annie is truly a Star of the Industry.

Good Earthkeeping Award, Small Property

Chancellor Hotel on Union Square - San Francisco

The 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.

Without a corporate office or a multi-unit company to provide the structure of an all-encompassing environmental plan, the Chancellor Hotel has managed to create one on their own and largely through a philosophy of doing the right thing rather than an elaborate plan. Old-fashioned conservation and reduction in every aspect of the hotel from the front of the house to the back of the house won The Chancellor this award. At the Stars of the Industry Awards dinner, the award for the Chancellor Hotel was accepted by Ollie Rodriquez, Director of Housekeeping and Rick Moorhouse, Director of Engineering (pictured with Jim Abrams, President & CEO of CH&LA).

Good Earthkeeping Award, Large Property

Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina - San Diego

There was no doubt about this award - the Sheraton was only the fourth hotel to utilize 'ultra-clean' fuel cell technology in their installation of a one megawatt fuel cell power plant on property. This power plant provides approximately 70% of its electricity, which generates the electricity with natural gas and produces almost no emissions with the energy byproduct serving to heat the pool.

This technology is the most efficient available - it produces more electric power from less fuel with the lowest emissions of any fossil-based technology. The Sheraton installed not just one, but two fuel cell power plants - one for each tower. Robert Cartwright, General Manager of the Sheraton and David Prost, Chief Engineer accepted the award at the Stars of the Industry Award dinner from Jim Abrams, President & CEO of CH&LA.