LOS ANGELES—The AHLA Basis raised a document $1.2 million at its fifth annual gala to have fun winners and up-and-coming hospitality leaders whereas elevating funds to assist AHLA Basis packages which are serving to the business recruit and retain tomorrow’s leaders.
Every year, the Night time of a Thousand Stars gala celebrates property-level expertise that makes the business so completely different. All through the night, business leaders commemorated the 2023 Stars of the Trade Award winners and the people that embody hospitality whereas elevating crucial funds to assist Basis packages.
“The Night time of a Thousand Stars Gala showcases the wonderful and passionate men and women who make accommodations really feel like house and transfer our business ahead. A lot of their work is behind the scenes, and this can be a great alternative to provide them the reward and recognition they deserve,” mentioned Anna Blue, president of the AHLA Basis. “The overwhelming assist the resort business’s philanthropic arm acquired at this occasion will immediately affect lives and the way forward for our business for the higher.”
As a part of the celebration, President and CEO of Wyndham Inns & Resorts Geoff Ballotti grew to become the second-ever recipient of the Arne Sorenson Social Impression Management Award for his efforts to advance constructive societal change.
“Geoff—very like Arne—is a real embodiment of all the nice that hospitality represents. His empathy, his accessibility, and his dedication to doing the best factor is what makes him one in all our business’s best leaders,” mentioned AHLA President and CEO Chip Rogers. “The story of his success, from dishwasher to CEO of the world’s largest resort franchisor, is inspirational—as is his dedication to making sure the success of future resort leaders. I’m fortunate to name Geoff a colleague and pal, and it fills me with pleasure to honor him with this award.”
The funds raised assist Basis beneficiaries akin to Asia Magee, a graduate of the Empowering Youth Program in collaboration with Café Reconcile. Asia labored with Kimberly Chavis, a curriculum and coaching specialist at Café Reconcile, who helped Asia with the abilities coaching that she now applies to her resort job.
A number of business organizations have been additionally central to the night together with two presenting sponsors, Hilton and Qwick, who sponsored the occasion.
“Hilton is proud to assist the work the AHLA Basis does to construct careers, enhance lives, and strengthen the lodging business. Tonight’s distinguished winners and finalists, together with our very personal Katie Ward, deliver their ardour for what they do to work every day and create unforgettable experiences for company throughout the nation. We’re honored to be right here tonight to have fun these extremely gifted leaders,” mentioned Kevin Jacobs, CFO and president, world growth, Hilton, and presenting sponsor.
“Qwick and the AHLA Basis have a shared imaginative and prescient to create a stronger business workforce, which is why we’re honored to once more sponsor Night time of a Thousand Stars. This essential occasion not solely offers the business a possibility to acknowledge those who make it nice, however the funds raised assist all of us to empower extra folks to work in hospitality,” mentioned Jamie Baxter, co-founder and CEO of Qwick, and presenting sponsor.
The Basis additionally introduced the return of The Shining Star Award—it honors an individual or group that has gone above and past to advance the Basis’s mission of serving to folks construct careers, enhance their lives, and strengthen the lodging business. The workers of the Hyatt Regency DFW Worldwide Airport acquired this award for his or her anti-human trafficking work.
AHLA’s 2023 Stars of the Trade winners have been honored for his or her service to the business:
- North Star Award Winner: Sandra Hudgins, laundry attendant, Sonesta Choose Chattanooga at Hamilton Place, Chattanooga, Tennessee.
- North Star Award Finalists: Sandra Hudgins, laundry attendant, Sonesta Choose Chattanooga at Hamilton Place, Chattanooga, Tennessee; Azhar Mushtaq, job power supervisor, Prolonged Keep America, Charlotte, North Carolina; Oreste (Rusty) Pinera, in a single day operations supervisor, Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, Orlando, Florida.
- Excellent Common Supervisor of the 12 months (Full Service): Katie Ward, Embassy Suites Minneapolis Airport, Bloomington, Minneapolis.
- Excellent Common Supervisor of the 12 months (Choose Service): Harold Daniels, Travelodge by WH, Memphis, Tennessee.
- Paving The Manner Award: Rachel Moniz, principal and chief working officer, HEI Inns & Resorts, Norwalk, Colorado.
- Stevan Porter Rising Hospitality Chief of the 12 months: Madelyn Dingam, advertising supervisor, Cliff Home Maine, Cape Neddick, Maine