The stage is set for the 2008 Hall of Fame

The Ballroom at the Doubletree San Jose Hotel, the gracious host of the CH&LA Hall of Fame Dinner, is all set.

What a crowd at the Hall of Fame!

Everyone is mingling at the Hall of Fame reception.

Passed Hors D' Oeuvres

Two-hundred people enjoyed the Hall of Fame Dinner at the beautiful Doubletree Hotel San Jose.

Hall of Fame Inductee

Jim Abrams, CH&LA President & CEO is honored to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

To help set the tone for the evening

Some of Jim's personal belongs were on display. Shown here are some of his briefcase collection and some of his awards.

Any special wishes for Jim?

Chris Hennessy, of Custom Video Connection, went around interviewing the Hall of Fame Attendees. Marilyn Jones an Account Associate with Arthur J. Gallagher & Company records her congratulation to Jim on his retirement and induction into the CH&LA Hall of Fame.

Everyone is really enjoying the reception

CH&LA's VP Lynn Mohrfeld talks with Rick and Susan Anderson from the Casa Tropicana Bed & Breakfast Inn.

Jim Abrams Wine

Heartland Payment Systems donated the wine for the event that they had personalized just for Jim!

Jim Abrams interviewed by videographer

Jim tells Chris Hennessy, videographer, what he thinks about the huge attendance at this event in honor of him.

Guests flew in from all over for this very special Hall of Fame

Randi Kirshbaum from CalPoly Collins School of Hospitality and Fred Schwartz President of AAHOA are happy to be in San Jose.

What a great way to spend a Wednesday night!

Lynn Mohrfeld, CH&LA EVP chats with CLIA past Chair Seema Patel and Vicki Hong.

Enjoying the reception are:

Kanti Patel of Sumrad Investments, Tony Bruno of Disneyland Resort Hotels and Steve Robbins of BBJ Linen.

Heartland Payment Systems donated the "Jim Abrams" wine to the dinner.

Pictured left to right: Patrick Wong, Michael Bliss, Kirk Buchanan, Robert Michaels, Jim Abrams, Kris Abrams, Dennis Carpenter and Bob Payne.

They came from far and wide to honor a well-respected man in the industry - Jim Abrams

Shown here: CH&LA's President and CEO Jim Abrams with CLIA's President Rick Lawrence.

Marriott International's table at dinner

Pictured left to right, bottom row: Pat Seminario - General Manager, Ventura Marriott, Bill Gunderson - General Manager, Anaheim Marriott, Paul Cahill - General Manager, Newport Beach Marriott, Joe Rothman, past CH&LA President, Director Emeritus and retired Marriott General Manager. Top Row: Rene Boskoff - General Manager, Monterey Marriott, Executive Committee Member of the CH&LA Board, Oscar Rodiguez - General Manager, Hotel 480 - San Francisco, Stan Moore - General Manager, San Francisco Airport Marriott.

Hilton Hotel's table at dinner

Pictured left to right, bottom row: Dave Costain, Cindy Power - General Manager, Doubletree Golf Resort San Diego, Tim Bridwell - Vice-President, Hilton, Michael Dunne - General Manager, Hilton in San Francisco, Rob Balmer - General Manager, Doubletree San Jose. Top Row: Joe Vinatieri, Mayor of Whittier, Mike Fannon, Director of Hilton Hotels Larry Link, Director of Operations for Clout International and CH&LA Board Member.

The Hyatt's of California table at dinner

Pictured from left to right, bottom: Jordon Meisner - SVP, Northern California, Cormac O'Modhrain - President, CIM Group and CH&LA Board Member and Heidi Bettencourt - Director of Sales and Marketing for the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara. Top row: Scott Vandenberg - General Manager, SFO Hyatt, Peter Rice - General Manager - General Manager, Hyatt Santa Clara, Allan Farwell - General Manager, Hyatt Grand Champions Resort & Spa and CH&LA Board of Director and Jerry Simmons - Managing Director, Hyatt Regency San Francisco.

CH&LA's Chair welcomes everyone to the dinner

Peggy Mosley President and CEO of the Groveland Hotel is CH&LA's Chair this year.

CH&LA's Education Foundation President

Luis Barrios - General Manager, Best Western Hacienda Hotel - Old Town San Diego thanks the sponsors and announces that the Foundation has almost reached its goal of raising $100,000 this year.

Hall of Fame Head Table

Left to right, bottom row: Pam Richardson - CH&LA Board Member, Ralph Heim - CH&LA Lobbyist, Public Policy Advocates, Tony Bruno - Vice-President Disneyland Resorts and Downtown Disney, CH&LA Past Chair and current Board of Director, Jim Abrams - CH&LA President and his wife, Kris Abrams. Top Row: Don Johnson - Owner Vagabond - Palm Springs and Hall of Famer, Past CH&LA Chair and current CH&LA Board Member, Peggy Mosley - President and CEO, Groveland Hotel and CH&LA Chair, Luis Barrios - General Manager, Best Western Hacienda Hotel - Old Town San Diego, Bhupen Amin - CEO, Lotus Hotels and CH&LA's incoming Chair and Peter Fuller - CH&LA Director Emeritus and Hall of Famer.

CH&LA's Staff

Pictured left to right, bottom row: Susan Ragatz - Consultant, Michelle Donohue - Accounting/Operations Manager, Trisha Moore - Membership Services Coordinator, Katherine Davis - CABBI Program Manager

Top Row: Lynn Mohrfeld - EVP, Tara O'Dell - Education Manager, Donna Potoski - Membership Manager, Ellen Anderson - Membership Manager, Jennifer Flohr - Director of Meetings & Events and Kathy Moler - CABBI Membership Manager.

AAHOA's table at the dinner

Pictured left to right, bottom row: Tarun Patel - Penta Hospitality and AAHOA Vice-Chair, Fred Schwartz - President AAHOA, Jeannine Herbert-Long, Mukesh Mowji - Penta Hospitality, Tess Dubois-Carey - Choice Hotels Top row: Anil R. Patel, Hiren Mowji, Sanjay Thakor, Bobby Neuman - AAHOA Regional Director

Everyone enjoyed the delicious dinner

The wine provided by Heartland complimented the Doubletree's tender filet mignon and large butterfly shrimp with scalloped potatoes.

Kris and Jim Abrams

Kris and Jim Abrams enjoy dinner and look forward to dessert.

Pictured left to right, bottom row: Pam Inman - AH&LA Vice-President, Bob Begley - Former CH&LA President and Hall of Famer, Irene Wilhelm wife of Robert, Robert Wilhelm - CH&LA Director Emeritus and Hall of Famer Top Row: Joe McInerney, AH&LA President, Michael Handlery - Handlery Hotels and CH&LA Hall of Famer and Director Emeritus, Margaret Handlery, wife of Jon Handlery, Jon Handlery - SR. Vice-President, Handlery Hotels and CH&LA Board Member.

The Roasters prepare to Roast Jim!

Jon Handlery, the MC for the night, at the podium introduces Ralph Heim, Dave Britton, Joe Rothman and Don Johnson.

Hall of Fame Inductee

Jim Abrams listens to the speakers at his dinner.

Don Johnson roasts Jim

Don Johnson - Hall of Famer, Past CH&LA President and CH&LA Board Member told the story of Jim's addiction of flip charts and how the board broke him of it.

The roast continues

Don Johnson jokes that Jim kept Office Depot in business with his large use of flip charts.

Dave Britton roasts Jim

Dave Britton former CH&LA VP of Marketing & Business Development, Director Emeritus and current GM of the Holiday Inn Torrance pays up on an old bet with Jim with a large bottle of Jack Daniels.

Jon Handlery Mocks Joe Rothman's Bio

Jon Handlery makes fun of the short bio Joe Rothman faxed him compared to the lengthy bio Jim gave him!

Joe Rothman past CH&LA Chair roasts Jim

Joe shared the history of the Hall of Fame Awards.

Ralph Heim, CH&LA Lobbyist roasts Jim

Ralph tells many funny stories about Jim and Jim's dog, Spike - the wonder dog.

Ralph Heim gives Jim a special gift

Ralph Heim, an accomplished photographer, took this photo of a bear that shares Jim's love of Jack Daniels.

Attendees enjoy the program

Cindy Power, General Manager of the Doubletree Golf Resort San Diego and past CH&LA Chair, watches the program.

Attendees enjoy the program

Andy Feinstein, CalPoly Collins School of Hospitality Mgt and Ed Bear of Auto Clerk and CH&LA Board of Director enjoy the program.

Jim is a good sport

Jim Abrams takes the roasting all in good fun.

Award Presentation

Robert McCarthy of PAETEC Communications presents the Hall of Fame Award to CH&LA President & CEO Jim Abrams.

Jim Abrams thanks everyone.

Jim Abrams is honored and humbled by all the people in attendance at the dinner.

The Crowd Stands

A standing ovation for Jim Abrams.

Jim thanks everyone for coming to the Hall of Fame

Bhupen Amin, Jim Abrams, Luis Barrios and Peggy Mosley happily pose for the photographer.