Press room

CHLA Announces 2016 Stars of the Industry Award Winners

Rancho Palos Verdes, California – The California Hotel & Lodging Association announced their 2016 Stars of the Industry award winners on Friday, November 18, 2016 at the Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes. The annual Stars of the Industry awards, presented by USA TODAY, are given out to honor lodging employees and properties that best symbolize the quality service of the industry. The 2016 awards were given out for three property and six individual categories, as well as the inaugural Peggy Mosley Industry Champion Award honoring an outstanding CHLA or CABBI member who has demonstrated professionalism in operating a CHLA or CABBI member property, and have taken a leadership role in our industry and in his or her community.

Outstanding Lodging Employee of the Year:

• Edwin Valondo, Front Desk – TownePlace Suites by Marriott, Campbell
• Leticia Lopez, Front Desk Supervisor – Ramada Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara
• Daniel Newhouse, Restaurant Server – Hotel del Coronado, Coronado

Outstanding Manager of the Year:

• Erica Coppola – Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa, Pismo Beach
• Guysell Geter – Argonaut Hotel, San Francisco
• Juan Leonis – Fairmont San Francisco, San Francisco

General Manager of the Year:

• Ann Callahan – Hillcrest House, San Diego
• Rick Riess – Montage Laguna Beach, Laguna Beach
• Grant Coonley – Hilton Los Angeles, Los Angeles

The HD Supply Housekeeping Award went to:

• Soledad Ibarra – Hyatt Carmel Highlands, Carmel
• Fernando Lozada – Harbor Court Hotel, San Francisco
• Stephanie Gonzales – Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines, La Jolla

The Stevan Porter Emerging Hospitality Leader of Year award winners were:

• Patrick Calahan – Montage Laguna Beach, Laguna Beach
• Sadie Larson – Hilton San Francisco Union Square, San Francisco

WIL Connect Leader of the Year award winners were:

• Kelly Roberts – The Historic Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, Riverside
• Cindy Hill – W San Francisco, San Francisco

A Community Service award went to:

• Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa, Pismo Beach
• CLIFT, San Francisco

The Good Earthkeeping award winner was: 

• Terranea Resort, Rancho Palos Verdes

Guest Relations awards went to:

• Chancellor Hotel on Union Square, San Francisco

The Peggy Mosley Industry Champion award went to:

• Jim & Carol Beazley – The Beazley House Bed & Breakfast, Napa

“The California Hotel & Lodging Association would like to congratulate our 2016 Stars of the Industry winners,” said CHLA President & CEO Lynn Mohrfeld.  “I’d like to thank all of our winners and nominees for their continued dedication and outstanding contributions to our state’s lodging industry.”