HSMAI-South Florida Hosted Successful First Annual Golf Tournament and Awards Event

We are pleased to report that some 90+ people attended our awards luncheon held this past Friday, November 20th at Jacaranda Country Club in Plantation. Of those at the luncheon, 26 brave golfers participated in our first annual tournament. Our Board of Directors and volunteer committee members worked very hard to make it a successful event, including our silent auction, to raise funds for the HSMAI Educational Foundation as well as for our elected charity.

As part of our awards program, we recognized HSMAI members who had achieved long term service in our Association. The following members were in the 20 year and more category: Ken Benjamin, Fernando Harb, Linda Sue Marsh, and Warren Nash. The following members were in the 15 year and above category: Jeanne Bigos, Douglas Carrillo, Sal Dickenson, Sandy Edwards, Phyllis Festinger, James Mostad, Marva Munroe, Anna Russo, Gail Spier, Karen Weiner-Escalera, and (me) Julie Wernick. In addition, these 10 year-term (and above) members were recognizes: Kattia Jaramillo, Nicki Grossman, Mike Hampton, Michele Olivier, Larry Rodkin, Christine Tascione, Debbie Toreson, and Kelly Tortoriello. Thank you for being active in HSMAI and congratulations to all.

In our community awards program, we solicited nominees and the winners were then selected by committee votes. In the HSMAI South Florida Rising Star Award, the nominees were: Chris Crenshaw, Gabriele Gannaway, Alice Land, Donna McCarthy, and Joe McKinney. In the Lifetime Achievement Award, the nominees were Linda Sue Marsh and Gail Spier. In the Sponsor of the Year, nominees were American Coach Lines, Canmark Printing, Creative Focus Photography and J Productions. In the Sales and Marketing Professional of the Year, nominees were Nadine Bankley (El Palacio Hotel), Olivia Pritchard (Eden Roc), Philip Ramcharitar (Canmark), and Susan Stern (Hampton Inn Plantation). In the Revenue Manager of the Year, nominees were Imtiaz Ali (Morgans Hotel Group)and Jean Francois Mourier (RevParGuru). In the General Manager of the Year, nominees were Debbie Cote (Hampton Inn Plantation), Don Friedman (Embassy Suites Ft. Lauderdale), and Carlos Molinet (Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina). In the Hospitality Legend, nominees were Jerry Faber (Jungle Queen), Lisa Jebb (Cream of the Crop Events),David LeBlang(American Coach) and Monroe Udell (Jaxwson's Ice Cream Parlour). Based on the wonderful participation of our peers in the industry, just being nominated was an award in itself. Congratulations to all our nominees. (Note: winners are in bold type).

And a big thank you, again, to all who bid on our silent auction prizes and donated to our charitable and community service contributions.

Looking forward, we hope everyone will join us at the annual hospitality alliance holiday party on December 10th at Florida International University's North Miami Campus, the Kovens Conference Center. Registration info is on our web site hsmaisouthflorida.org and reservations are being handled by SFMPI this year.

With best wishes to all for a happy, enjoyable Thanksgiving. Best, Julie Wernick, Managing Director, HSMAI-South Florida.