Hotel & Lodging Leaders and Employees Awarded for Service

Feb. 4, 2011 - PRLog -- Each year, the Maryland Hotel and Lodging Association honors the dedicated and talented people whose professionalism and commitment to service exemplify the highest standards in the industry, and make the lodging industry in Maryland so successful. The 22nd annual Stars of the Industry awards luncheon and Allied Trade Show was held Wednesday, January 26 at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center in National Harbor, MD.  

The annual event, created by the American Hotel and Lodging Association in 1989, brings together industry professionals from all departments—housekeeping, security, front desk clerks, banquet staff, sales, catering, bell staff—within member hotels and accommodations and honors the employees and properties that best symbolize the quality of the industry. The event recognizes the accomplishments of Maryland’s lodging employees and applauds their continued service to Maryland’s travelers. Winners of the Maryland event are sent to the American Hotel and Lodging Association to compete with winners from other State Stars programs.

Keynote speakers at the 2011 event were Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown and Aubrey Thagard, Special Assistant to Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker.

Following the MH&LA’s election of the 2011 Board of Directors, winners in 15 categories were honored as Stars of the Industry. Robert Allen, General Manager of the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel will serve as the 2011 Chairman of the Board.

The MH&LA awarded individual hotels for their community service, good earthkeeping, employee relations, and special event achievements. The Supervisor/Manager of the Year Award was given to Chara Hutzell of the Loews Annapolis Hotel; Joe Dantoni, General Manager for Historic Inns of Annapolis was honored as Hotelier of the Year; and American Pest, a silver partner to the MH&LA, was honored as Allied Member of the year. There were eight employee award recipients who were deemed the most deserving in their award category for outstanding customer service, leadership and for their dedication to their property and the traveling public.

“Even in these recessionary times, the tourism industry is one of only a very few that continually shows growth in the state. We salute all employees and the Stars winners for continually making things run smoothly and for giving their guests a positive experience,” says Mary Jo McCulloch, President and CEO of MH&LA.

# # #

About Maryland Hotel & Lodging Association
The Maryland Hotel and Lodging Association has been preserving and promoting Maryland’s lodging industry since 1913. The Association provides government representation on behalf of Maryland’s tourist accommodations and educates members on news and legislation affecting the lodging industry. The MH&LA fosters relationships among the Association’s lodging members and their suppliers to better serve the public and assists all members in expense control and revenue generation through resources such as reservation networks and certificate programs. And, through conferences and seminars, the MH&LA ensures that Maryland’s hotel and lodging industry remains well-informed, well connected, and at the forefront of service in the industry.