OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA.—The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) today honored the winners of the AH&LA Achievement Awards, part of the Stars of the Industry Awards luncheon, held during the AH&LA Summer Summit at The Skirvin Hilton and sponsored by U.S. Foodservice. The awards, created in 1966, recognize individual hotel properties that have developed outstanding programs, events and campaigns. Winners were chosen for awards in the categories of community service, good Earthkeeping, guest relations, special events (one-time event and ongoing), and for outstanding diversity initiatives.
SpringHill Suites by Marriott in St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Fla., won the community service award, small property category, for its long-term commitment to local Floridians in need. Since its opening in 2006, the property has donated furniture to the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate and “adopted” a local homeless/family transition center, placing particular attention on the needs of children. Despite being in operation for only two years, the hotel’s team has been recognized by the community for its selfless giving, winning the Larry Blumberg & Associates C.A.R.E.S. Leadership Award, an honor among the management company’s nearly 50 hotels; Marriott International’s Quarterly Award for Community Service; and, most recently, the Community Service Hotel of the Year Award, prevailing over all other SpringHill Suites by Marriott hotels.
Huntington Hotels/Courtyard Marriott San Diego Central in San Diego, Calif., won the award for the community service, large property category. Huntington Hotels/Courtyard Marriott stays actively involved in numerous organizations, motivating its employees to always take action when a neighbor is in need. Since opening in 2002, the property has donated rooms at a deeply discounted rate of $49 to the local Ronald McDonald House, hosted a golf tournament to raise money for a nearby children’s hospital, and even hosted a “Home-cooked Christmas” dinner for more than 200 Marines stationed away from their families. The hotel’s connection to the community and their quick, selfless response was also evident as wildfires struck Southern California last year, when the property invited displaced residents and firefighters to stay at the hotel.
Sleeping Lady Mountain Retreat in Leavenworth, Wash., won the Good Earthkeeping award, small property category, for fostering a unique and eco-friendly business and guest service approach. Focused on leaving a minimal environmental footprint, the property forges initiatives to lessen its impact via construction, maintenance, and daily operations procedures. Some unique and innovative aspects of the property include 32,000 lineal feet of decking made from recycled plastic grocery bags and hardwood chips, the use of electric vehicles for food, laundry and maintenance servicing the 45 acres of developed area, and buildings featuring recycled heartwood yellow pine from beams salvaged from the original Sears building in Chicago.
Doubletree Hotel & Executive Meeting Center Portland—Lloyd Center in Portland, Ore., is the winner of the Good Earthkeeping award in the large property category. The property has been an environmental advocate for many years, earning Green Seal Certification in 2004. Eco-conscious actions implemented include the creation of a property-specific carbon calculator, a comprehensive composting program, purchasing of renewable energy, retrofitting of all lighting and plumbing for maximum energy efficiency, and subsidizing public transit for employees. These programs have led to a 30 percent reduction in electricity, gas, and water consumption, and increased overall waste diversion from 8 percent to 70 percent.
Many of AH&LA’s partner state associations choose their own property award winners, which are submitted to the association for national judging. Making the decisions in this year’s competition were Kristen Clemens, vice president of marketing & communications, Destination Marketing Association International; Phil Hayward, editor, Lodging magazine; and Allen Kay, director of communications, Travel Industry Association of America.
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