Hot Springs Area Hospitality Leaders Celebrate Accomplishments at Annual Awards Dinner

Hot Springs— Hospitality industry leaders from across the Hot Springs metropolitan area gathered last night at the Embassy Suites - Hot Springs to celebrate the accomplishments of the local hospitality industry that occurred during 2009.

The annual awards dinner and officer initiation ceremony brings together hospitality industry leaders, managers, and staff to pay tribute to those people who have received recognition for their work from others in the local hospitality industry.  The Greater Hot Springs Area Chapter of the Arkansas Hospitality Association hosted last night's event.

“The Hot Springs area is lucky to have so many wonderfully talented people in their community.  The leaders receiving awards certainly deserve the recognition that their fellow hospitality industry members have shown them,” said Montine McNulty, Executive Director of the Arkansas Hospitality Association.  “The Hot Springs area has been very successful and it will continue to have great successes, thanks to its great industry and people.”

Honorees at this year’s banquet were as follows:

•    The Golden Key Award, presented to an hotelier for outstanding efforts in lodging, Best Western Winners Circle Inn
•    The Silver Cup Award, for outstanding efforts in the development of tourism, Quapaw Baths & Spa
•    Salut Au Restaurateur, for excellence in foodservice and hospitality, Chef Ted Roman-Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa
•    Bobbie Beavers Award, for continual service to the hospitality and tourism industry, Pati Brown, Mountain Harbor Resort
•    Purveyor of the Year, for a member that demonstrates great customer service and support, Glazer’s Distributors of Arkansas
•    Outstanding Hospitality Student of the Year, presented to a student from the National Park Community College for excellence in the hospitality curriculum, Catharine Kennedy
•    Honorary Educator of the Year, presented to an individual for support of the Hospitality Administration Program at National Park Community College, Rusty Mathis, Ben E. Keith Company
•    The President’s Award, presented to an individual for many years of service to the hospitality industry and who has supported tourism in the Greater Hot Springs Area, Karla Nardi, National Park Community College

The following people were installed as the new officers for the 2010 Greater Hot Springs Area Chapter:

•    President -         Kurt Schatzl, Embassy Suites – Hot Springs
•    Vice-President -     Chrissy Egleston, Hot Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau
•    Secretary/Treasurer -     Jimmy Johnston, Oaklawn Racing and Gaming

•    Out-going President -    Franz Viertbauer, Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa

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The Arkansas Hospitality Association, a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit, is the official voice of the restaurant, lodging, travel and tourism industries in the state, representing the Arkansas Restaurant Association, the Arkansas Lodging Association and the Arkansas Travel Council.

Visit us online at www.arhospitality.org!