FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 5, 2015
Contact: Greg Adkins, President & CEO
615-385-9970 / greg@tnhta.net
Nashville, TN – The Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association (TnHTA) honored its 2015 industry all-stars from West Tennessee at the annual “Stars of the Industry” awards Gala, held Monday, August 3rd at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center in Murfreesboro. “Hospitality and tourism make up the state’s second largest industry,” said TnHTA Chairman Ken Maples. “The individuals and companies we honor with these awards are the driving force behind that success. They provide the top-notch guest service that keeps people coming back to Tennessee. The winners were selected to receive these honors by people who truly understand the level of commitment that is required to provide excellent service to customers on a daily basis – their peers. We’re honored to have them as part of our membership, and we congratulate them on a job well done!”
The “Stars of the Industry Awards” are presented to individuals, companies, and industry partners whose commitment to hospitality and tourism has improved the overall industry statewide and has allowed the industry to ‘wow’ guests on a daily basis. This year’s winners epitomize the true spirit of hospitality that makes Tennessee a great place to live and visit. The 2015 award recipients include:
Destination Marketing Organization of the Year
Visit Knoxville
TnHTA Attraction of the Year
Tennessee Smokies Baseball
TnHTA Preferred Vendor of the Year
Donald Tatum
PepsiCo
TnHTA Hospitality & Tourism Educator of the Year
Joseph Cairns
Walter State Community College
Women in Hospitality & Tourism Leader of the Year
Jill Thompson
Greater Knoxville Hospitality Association
TnHTA Young Professional Emerging Leader of the Year
Kellie Keyes
The Omni Nashville Hotel
Community Service Award (Restaurant)
Flying Squirrel
Community Service Award (Small Property)
The Crash Pad: An Uncommon Hostel
Community Service Award (Large Property)
The Park Vista a Doubletree by Hilton
Community Service Award (Tourism Property)
Ruby Falls
Good Earth Keeping Award (Small Property)
Inn on the River
Good Earth Keeping Award (Tourism Property)
Ruby Falls
Guest Relations Award (Restaurant)
Flying Squirrel
Guest Relations Award (Small Property)
Nina Grisham
Hampton Inn Gatlinburg
Guest Relations Award (Large Property)
Angel Strong
Loews Vanderbilt Hotel
One Time Special Event Award (Restaurant)
Trattoria II Mulino
Ongoing Special Event Award (Large Property)
Five and TENN Retail Store
The Omni Nashville Hotel
Ongoing Special Event Award (Tourism Property)
Ruby Falls
Restaurant Employee of the Year (Independent)
Kolby Carpenter
Flying Squirrel
Restaurant Employee of the Year (Chain)
Becky Harris
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.
Restaurant Manager of the Year (Independent)
Chris Farsee
Kooky Canuck
Restaurant Manager of the Year (Chain)
Toby Winters
Copper Cellar Family of Restaurants
Chef of the Year (Independent)
Brandon Frohne
Mason’s of Loews Vanderbilt Hotel
Restaurant General Manager of the Year (Independent)
Mahasti Vafaie
The Tomato Head
Restaurant General Manager of the Year (Chain)
Thomas “Sid” Gribble
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.
Tourism Employee of the Year (Small)
Barry Dunford
M&M Productions USA
Tourism Employee of the Year (Large)
Lisa Catron
Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau
Tourism Manager of the Year (Large)
Kelli Gibson
Visit Knoxville
Tourism General Manager of the Year (Large)
Dana Hart
Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame
Lodging Employee of the Year (Small Property)
Jordan Haag The Crash Pad: An Uncommon Hostel
Lodging Employee of the Year (Large Property)
Shannon Gray
Loews Vanderbilt Hotel
Lodging Manager of the Year (Small Property)
Julio Galvez
Staybridge Suites Chattanooga
Lodging Manager of the Year (Large Property)
Don Michael Norwood
The Westin Memphis Beale Street
Lodging General Manager of the Year (Small Property)
Cornelia Dobbins
Hilton Garden Inn Gatlinburh
Lodging General Manager of the Year (Large Property)
Jackelyn Schafer
The Park Vista a Doubletree by Hilton
Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association
2015 Hotelier of the Year
Mary Calorio
Elvis Presley’s Heartbreak Hotel
Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association
2015 Restaurateur of the Year
Lauren McHugh Robinson
Huey’s Restaurants
Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association
2015 Tourism Professional of the Year
Butch Spyridon
The Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association is the voice of the lodging, dining, and tourism industry in the state of Tennessee. TnHTA provides education and training for industry employees and represents the interests of the hospitality and tourism industry at the local, state and national levels. The hospitality and tourism industry is the second largest in Tennessee, producing 146,200 jobs and an annual economic impact in excess of $16.6 billion. Learn more about TnHTA at www.tnhta.net.
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