CFHLA Recognizes Hotel Employees of the Year

Colin Findley Named Hotelier of the Year

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. October 14, 2008

ORLANDO, FL, January 25, 2007, The Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association held its annual Employee Recognition Awards celebration at the Wyndham Orlando . This "Academy Awards" style dinner recognized hotel employees of the year, in 12 different categories (Administrative, Bell Person/Concierge, Community Services, Convention Center/Banquet, Culinary, Engineering, Food & Beverage, Front Office, Housekeeping, Laundry, Recreational, and Security).

Over 140 nominations were received by CFHLA and each nominee was invited to attend an exclusive pre-dinner VIP reception featuring Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. Mayor Dyer greeted nominees and took individual photos with them during the reception.

Following the reception, Mayor Dyer escorted the nominees down a "Red Carpet" into the ballroom. Over 550 guests attending the dinner stood along the perimeter of the red carpet, and as if "paparazzi," applauded and took photos of the nominees as they walked into the ballroom.

Mayor Dyer began the dinner program by reading the City of Orlando's Proclamation and offering a congratulatory champagne toast to all the evenings' nominated employees.

"The CFHLA membership enjoys participating in this event. This evening offers the industry the opportunity to recognize and celebrate the

fine work of its exemplary employees. The program's family scholarship component further compliments the evening's celebrations," said CFHLA President Richard Maladecki.

The 2006 CFHLA Hospitality "Best of the Best"

are as follows:

---| DAMARIS ALMONTE

DoubleTree Guest Suites in the WDW Resort

2006 Administrative Employee of the Year

---| CLARKE ANDREAE

Celebration Hotel

2006 Bell Person/Concierge Employee of the Year

---| MOLLY E. FORD

Hard Rock Hotel(r) at Universal Orlando(r) Resort

2006 Community Service Employee of the Year

---| PAUL O'BRIEN

Hilton in the Walt Disney World Resort

2006 Convention Center/Banquet Employee of the Year

---| MANUELA CEDENO

Orlando World Center Marriott

2006 Culinary Employee of the Year

---| SCOTT McDOWELL

Orange Lake Resort and Country Club

2006 Engineering Employee of the Year

---| IVY BARNES

Grand Bohemian Hotel - Orlando

2006 Food & Beverage Service Employee of the Year

---| KATHERINE MOORE

International Plaza Resort & Spa

2006 Front Office Employee of the Year

---| EZEQUIEL (JIMMY) GONZALEZ

Embassy Suites Orlando Airport

2006 Housekeeping Employee of the Year

---| EMILIA REYES

Hilton in the Walt Disney World Resort

2006 Laundry Employee of the Year

---| CHRISTIE SANBORN

Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center

Recreational Employee of the Year

---| CARLOS MIRANDA

Mystic Dunes Resort & Golf Club

2006 Security/Loss Prevention Employee of the Year

Additionally, the following recipients earned other annual hospitality awards at the CFHLA Hospitality Gala of December 16th, 2006:

---|Colin Findley, General Manager, Hilton Garden Inn at SeaWorld International Center

2006 CFHLA Hotelier of the Year

---|Donna Stutts, President, VS Publishing Company

2006 CFHLA Allied Member of the Year

---|Dennis Ward, Chief Engineer, Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress

2006 CFHLA Engineer of the Year

---|Al Weiss, President of Worldwide Operations for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts

2006 Charles Andrews Memorial Hospitality Award for Community Leadership

Additionally, during the program, CFHLA presented nine $1,000 scholarships and one $5,000 scholarship to students who are related to an employee of a CFHLA member hotel.