North Texas Hotel Industry Honors Its Own at HOSPY’s Gala

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The North Texas hotel industry came together Friday night to honor its top performers at their annual HOSPY’s & Silver Plume Awards Gala. Hosted by the Hotel Association of North Texas (formerly the Hotel Association of Greater Dallas), the October 30, 2009 event was held at the Renaissance Richardson Hotel with more than 550 persons in attendance. Title sponsor of the event was FreemanGroup.

Award winners were presented with a hotel association HOSPY award which recognizes the contribution of an individual or organization to the industry over the past year.

“This is the night where we celebrate those who have helped make the North Texas hotel industry one of the best in the country,” said Brooke Dieterlen, executive director of the Hotel Association of North Texas. “It is through their efforts, which are made on a daily basis, that Dallas and North Texas area remain one of the top places to visit or hold meetings.”

In all, 13 HOSPY awards were presented to individuals, hotels, and companies recognizing their contribution to the hotel industry.

Top hotel awards went to:

• Renaissance Dallas Hotel of the Year - 500+ rooms
• W-Dallas Victory Hotel of the Year – up to 499 rooms
• Residence Inn Dallas Market Center Hotel of the Year – Select Service
• The Fairmont Dallas won Green Hotel of the Year

Top General Manager awards went to:

• Ray Hammer, General Manager at the Sheraton Dallas, General Manager of the Year in the Full Service Hotel Category (500+ rooms)
• Jeremy Millar, General Manager at the Wyndham Dallas Love Field, General Manager of the Year in the Full Service Hotel Category (up to 499 rooms), and
• Gail Jackson, General Manager of the Hilton Garden Inn DFW Airport South, General Manager of the Year in the Select Service Hotel Category.

Other award winners included:

• Friend of the Industry: D/FW Meet Now Promise Program
• Hotel Chef of the Year: Allain Vervil, Dallas/Addison Marriott Quorum
• Allied Partner of the Year: PSAV, Presentation Services
• Supervisor/Manager of the Year: Case Kinkel, Courtyard by Marriott Addison Quorum
• Front of the House- Employee of the Year: Rolando Diaz, The Westin Galleria
• Heart of the House- Employee of the Year: Collins Strickland, Doubletree Campbell Centre

Where Magazine partnered with the Hotel Association this year to recognize Concierges of the Year and made the following presentations:

• Concierge of the Year: Juan DeHoyas- Renaissance Worthington Fort Worth
• Corporate Concierge of the Year: Jessica Lowry- Les Concierge at Texas Instruments

“We want to congratulate all the winners this year as well as thank the Renaissance Richardson Hotel General Manager, John Klukan, his banquet and catering team, and the chef, Rob Richards, for making our third annual Gala a spectacular event,” said Dieterlen.

The Hotel Association of North Texas (formerly the Hotel Association of Greater Dallas) is one of the largest local hotel associations in the country representing more than 40,000 rooms in the North Texas market. Established in 1926, the association works to promote the interests of the hotel community throughout North Texas.