Local Hospitality Pros to Be Honored

Heidi Genoist -- Tradeshow Week, 2/29/2008 2:12:00 PM

Feeling a little post-Oscars let-down? This should cheer you up: The local hospitality industry now has a red-carpet awards program of its very own.

The Las Vegas Hospitality Assn. will hold its first LVHA Distinction Awards, honoring exceptional achievement among workers in the hospitality business, March 27 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The 2007 LVHA board judged the inaugural contest, selecting the following winners (by award category):

• Rising Star – Jordan Clark, Las Vegas Meetings by Harrah’s Entertainment

• Spirit Award – Don Ross, Las Vegas Meetings by Harrah’s Entertainment

• Industry Leader – Valerie Moon, MGM Mirage (Excalibur)

• Legacy Award – Rossi Ralenkotter, Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority

• Business of the Year – Freeman

Winners will receive trophies, and the association will award an educational scholarship in their name to a student attending a local college or university.

The awards celebration, emceed by local Channel 8 news anchor Dave McCann, will include a three-course meal by Aramark and some surprise entertainment. The crowd will also get to see personalized videos about each winner.

“We’re really trying to make the winners feel like they’ve won something special, like they’re at the Academy Awards,” said LVHA President Linda Ness, director of sales for Freeman audiovisual solutions. “It’s all about them and what they’ve contributed to the hospitality and tourism in Southern Nevada.”