Thomas D. Smith Named Hyatt's GM of the Year
SAN ANTONIO, TX, April 18, 2006. Thomas D. Smith, general manager of the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa has been awarded the Donald M. Pritzker Award for Excellence as Hyatt Hotels Corporation's General Manager of the Year. Eleven general managers from 124 U.S.-based hotels were nominated for this prestigious award. The award was presented to Smith at the Annual General Managers Meeting held in Chicago over the April 9th weekend.
Smith, who has been with the Hyatt Hill Country for just over one year, stood out among nominees based on several levels of consideration; guest comments, meeting planners recommendations, employee surveys and the financial well-being of the property
"Professionally, this award is the pinnacle of what my family and I have worked towards for 24 years. This award really goes to my staff and each Hyatt Hill Country employee" Smith said. "On a personal level, it is so humbling to be singled out among the people whom I have respected and learned from since beginning my career."
Smith's career with Hyatt Hotels & Resorts began more than 24 years ago, in Kansas City Missouri, at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center as a corporate management trainee. His initial training led him to many positions of responsibility within Hyatt. Before coming to the Hyatt Hill Country he moved to Texas to be the general manager of Hyatt DFW, he served as GM of Hyatt Regency Tampa, Tampa, Florida for three years. Smith has worked in various management positions in Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, Minneapolis, Lexington, Kentucky, St. John, Virgin Islands and Kansas City.
Hyatt Hill Country employees greeted Smith at the San Antonio International Airport in a stretch limousine and helped Smith celebrate his return to the resort with a surprise reception that included serenading mariachis.
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