FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Trade association honors Barry Kidd with Lifetime Achievement Award
Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association announces 2017 industry award winners
Harrisburg, Pa. (October 26, 2017)—The Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association (PRLA) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2017 Spirit of Hospitality Awards. Each year, PRLA honors exceptional members of the association and the hospitality industry for their leadership, commitment and service to the industry and community. This year’s awards gala took place on October 23 at Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts, Pittsburgh.
“This year’s recipients of the Spirit of Hospitality Awards reflect the dedication and diversity of our industry’s workforce,” said John Longstreet, president & CEO of PRLA. “Our members are committed to providing great customer experiences, and we are pleased to honor the individuals and businesses who make that happen.”
Barry Kidd, vice president of hotels for Lancaster-based Dommels Hotel Management Inc., was honored with the PRLA’s Lifetime Achievement Award. This award is presented to long-standing PRLA members who have demonstrated continuous support of the industry and association throughout their career.
Hoss’s Family Steak & Sea restaurants, headquartered in Duncansville, Pa., received the 2017 Wilmer S. Lapp Community Service Award for their fundraiser for the family of fallen state trooper, Landon Weaver. This one-day event raised nearly $40,000 for Trooper Weaver’s family.
PRLA also honored the following individuals as Spirit of Hospitality award winners:
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Future of the Industry Award: Rachel Cowley, Penn State University School of Hospitality Management
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Customer Relations Award: Patrick Bourque, York County Convention & Visitors Bureau
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Employee of the Year: Gregory Weinman, ECOLAB
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Manager of the Year: Judy Moore, Garces Group
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Eco-Hero Award: Bob & Jodi McCafferty, North Country Brewing Company
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Innovation Award: York County Tourism Grant Program, York County CVB
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Event of the Year: Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival, Historic Philadelphia Inc.
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Campaign of the Year: Butler County Service Excellence Awards, Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau
For additional details about each category of the Spirit of Hospitality Awards, please visit www.prla.org/industry-awards.html.
Reinhart Foodservice, Hilton Worldwide, and the Pennsylvania Wine & Spirits Association were the primary sponsors of the event, with additional support from AAHOA, AUI Associates Inc., Dell, Ellis Coffee, Heartland, Sysco Central PA, Sysco Philadelphia, UnitedHealthcare, Auntie Anne’s, Discover Lehigh Valley, Getaways on Display, Miles Partnership, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board, Visit Erie, Visit Hershey Harrisburg, Visit Philadelphia, and Visit Pittsburgh.
About Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association
The Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association promotes, protects, and improves the hospitality and tourism industries of Pennsylvania. PRLA serves as the unified voice for one of Pennsylvania’s largest economic drivers, hospitality and tourism, which employs approximately 960,000 people and generates revenues of more than $42 billion annually.
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Contact: Stephanie Otterson
Director of Communications
(800) 345-5353
[email protected]