More than 200 members from the Long Beach’s hospitality industry will convene at the Hotel Maya for the first-ever Long Beach Hospitality Alliance Awards on September 27. The event, attended by Mayor Robert Garcia and several of the City Councilmembers including Suzie Price, Stacy Mungo and Daryl Supernaw, will begin at 5:30pm with cocktails, entertainment and a silent auction.
To purchase individual tickets or a table for the upcoming Awards Presentation, visit www.lbchamber.com. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
“We have a great night planned,” said Pam Ryan, general manager of Renaissance Long Beach Hotel and co-founder of the LBHA. “We’re excited to welcome the top finalists and announce the winners in each category. It’s going to be a fun night of celebration.”
The evening will begin outdoors overlooking the waterfront with cocktails and a silent auction with 100% of the proceeds benefitting the Long Beach Chapter of the Mental Health America. The party will eventually move indoors for dinner and the awards presentation emceed by Dan Lipton, publisher of TravelHost Magazine.
The nominees for this year’s awards are (in no particular order):
Rising Star Award
• Evelyn Garcia, Lounge Server/Bartender, Hilton Long Beach
• Kimberly Gros, Founder, SteelCraft
• Alexis Amato, Senior Sales Manager, Hotel Maya
• William ‘Ki’ Realer, Bartender, Hilton Long Beach
• Taylor Roll, Senior Corporate Manager, Hotel Maya
Unsung Hero Award
• Jimmy Hannon, Pro-Shop Manager, Rec-9 Golf Course
• Rafael Sanchez, Banquet Server, Hyatt Regency
• Miguel Albar, Bellperson/Driver, Hilton Long Beach
• Karen Flores, Front Desk Agent, Hilton Long Beach
• Jackie Melin, Server, Fuego at Hotel Maya
Beyond the Call of Duty
• Richard Grimaldo, Director of Facilities, Hyatt Centric The Pike
• Alfonso Idio, Laundry Attendant, Hilton Long Beach
• Jackie Melin, Server, Hotel Maya
• Jonathan Brown, Accounts Payable Clerk, Westin Long Beach
• Scott Fisher, Sommelier, L’Opera
Lifetime Achievement
• Javier Becerra, Room Service Server, Hyatt Regency
• Athena Quesada, Operator, Hilton Long Beach
• John Morris, Manager/Partner, Boathouse on the Bay
• Terrence Antonelli, Owner, L’Opera
• Raquel Jubran , Executive Chef/Partner, Lasher’s Kitchen
Community Spirit Award
• Visoth Ouk ‘Chef T’, The Federal Bar
• Dana & Paul Buchanan, Owners, Primal Alchemy Catering
• Marcos Benavidez, General Manager, Elise’s Tea Room
• Eric Johnson, Owner, Legend’s Sports Bar
• Alison DeBorba, Convention Services Manager, Hotel Maya
Sustainability Award
• Salud Juice
• Restauration
• SteelCraft/Howard CDM
Hotel Award
• Hotel Maya
• Renaissance Long Beach
• Courtyard by Marriott Long Beach Downtown
Restaurant Award
• Parkers’ Lighthouse
• Boathouse on the Bay
• Michael’s On Naples
• L’Opera Ristorante
• James Republic
Entrepreneur Award
• Kimberly Gros, Founder, SteelCraft
• Layla Ali-Ahmed, Founder, Beach City Food Tours
• Aaron Tofani, Restaurateur, Rance’s Pizza
• Ray & Lynn Lasher, Owners, Lasher’s Kitchen
Special Event Award
• Dine Out Long Beach, Restaurant Week 2.0
• Belmont Shore Business Association, Stroll & Savor
• L’Opera Ristorante c/o Nicole and Justine, Private Dining & Events
• SteelCraft, 2017 Summer Series
• Level Events, Modern Speakeasy at Hotel Maya
Innovation in Hospitality
• Carrie Arnold, Marketing, Schwag App
• Kimberly Gros, Founder, SteelCraft
• Terry Antonelli, Restaurateur, L’Opera
• Jaratporn Sungkamee, Restaurateur, Spicy Sugar
Supplier Award
• Level Entertainment c/o Taylor Gunnin
• Stephanie Linens c/o Lorena Ruiz
• PSAV c/o Michael Fraitag
Housekeeping Award
• Hortencia Gutierrez Hilton Long Beach
• Maria Torres, Hilton Long Beach
• Gloria Jimenez, Hilton Long Beach
• Elizabeth Miguel, Hilton Long Beach
• Lupe Serrano, Renaissance Long Beach
“I am very honored to be among the finalists for the Community Spirit Award,” said Eric Johnson, co-owner of Legend’s Sports Bar, Auld Dubliner, Boathouse on the Bay, and Patti’s Place. “I understand that the finalists were nominated by their peers, so it makes it even more special that someone who has an understanding of what it means to be in this business thought I was deserving of such recognition.”
Sponsors for this year’s LBHA Hospitality Awards include, Shaw Interiors, Downtown Long Beach Associates, PSAV, Stephanie’s Linens, Camelot, Armanie Experience, the Grunion Gazette, Queen Califia, Hospitality Management Program at California State University, Long Beach, Hormel, Tito’s Vodka and White Sakuras Florist.
Individual tickets or tables of 10 for the Long Beach Hospitality Alliance Awards taking place September 27 at Hotel Maya can be purchased online at www.lbchamber.com. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Elizabeth Borsting Public Relations, Inc. at 562.856.9292.
About Long Beach Hospitality Alliance (LBHA)
LBHA is a member-based coalition working on behalf of hotel and restaurant operators and tourism related services throughout the city of Long Beach. The Long Beach Hospitality Alliance (LBHA) is a business council under the auspices of The Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. The LBHA represents the local hospitality and restaurant industry and serves as a liaison to the greater Long Beach area community which includes, but is not limited to: all areas of city, state and federal government; local media; special constituency groups and related tourism entities and organizations. For more information visit: www.lbhospitality.com
