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2014 Stars of the Industry Awards
San Francisco, Calif. – The California Hotel & Lodging Association announced their 2014 Stars of the Industry award winners this past Friday at the Westin St. Francis hotel in San Francisco. 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 2014 awards were given out for five property and six individual categories, as well as one industry supplier category.
2014 Guest Relations
Magic Castle Hotel, Los Angeles
Montage Laguna Beach, Laguna Beach
2014 Community Service
Terranea Resort, Rancho Palos Verdes
2014 WIL Connect Leader of the Year
Gaye Vancans, Community Relations Manager, Terranea Resort, Rancho Palos Verdes
2014 The Stevan Porter Emerging Hospitality Leader of the Year
Whitney Okuda, Catering Manager, Hotel Nikko San Francisco, San Francisco
2014 HD Supply Housekeeping Award
Maria Paredes, Room Attendant, Hilton Los Angeles Airport, Los Angeles
2014 Outstanding General Manager of the Year
Jim Treadway, Bardessono, Yountville
Don Shindle, The Westin Verasa Napa, Napa
Kelley Cosgrove, he Fairmont San Jose, San Jose
2014 Outstanding Manager of the Year
Renee Gallegos-Agnew, Front Office Manager, Best Western Inn of Los Gatos, Los Gatos
Greg Alberto, Director of Human Resources, The US Grant, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Diego
Rona Kay, Hotel Manager, Disneyland Hotel, Anaheim
2014 Outstanding Lodging Employee of the Year
Tom Wolfe, Chief Concierge, The Fairmont San Francisco, San Francisco
Georgia Kinkead, Front Desk Agent, Glorietta Bay Inn, Coronado
Laura Ybarra, Banquet Server, Montage Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills
2014 Special Events
Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa, Pismo Beach (Ongoing)
Montage Laguna Beach, Laguna Beach (Ongoing)
Doubletree by Hilton San Jose, San Jose (One-time)
2014 Technology Innovation of the Year
Raj Patel, Founder & CEO of, INNSight.com, San Francisco