THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 19, 1995 TAG: 9505180356
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 24 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JO-ANN CLEGG, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
For the city's busboys, chefs, waitresses, catering managers, hostesses, housekeepers, bartenders, reservationists, front office staffs and clerks, the National Tourism Week awards luncheon at Pavilion recently was the Emmys, Oscars and Tonys all rolled into one.
Emma Pinto, a housekeeper at Ramada on the Beach, smiled broadly as she received the award in the housekeeping category from Mayor Meyera Oberndorf.
``Emma's one in a million!'' her superiors had written in her nomination. ``Even though she has a serious illness in her family and has two children entering college this fall, she has never missed a day at work. Her dedication to the hospitality industry is exemplary.''
The annual awards luncheon, sponsored by the Virginia Beach Department of Convention and Visitor Development and the Virginia Beach tourism industry, honors the 23,000 individuals who work or volunteer in the city's hospitality business.
According to Jim Ricketts, director of Convention and Visitor Development, the resort city will host 2 million overnight visitors who will spend in the neighborhood of $30 million in Virginia Beach this year.
Exceptional service by workers such as Pinto is one factor in drawing referrals and repeat visitors.
``They are the personnel who daily provide the essential excellence in service it takes to ensure the success of any marketing and promotional program,'' Ricketts said.
In addition to Pinto, this year's awards went to Keith Whitley of Enterprise Rental Car (retail category); Chris Mast, Marine Science Museum (public service); Elizabeth Woodruff, Ramada Plaza Resort (clerical); Jane Lloyd, Virginia Beach Resort Hotel (banquet manager); Kim Koenemund, Ramada Plaza Resort (front desk); Nicole Lagermann, Ramada Plaza Resort (sales manager); Walt Baumgart, Sheraton Oceanfront (maintenance); Christine Thompson, Capt. George's Seafood-Pungo (waitress); Eric Admal, Capt. George's Seafood-Pungo (prep person); Veronica Gray, Virginia Beach Resort Hotel (line cook); Jimmy Ramsey, Sheraton Oceanfront (kitchen); Kathy Damon, Gus' Mariner Restaurant (hostess); George Langert, the Happy Crab (bartender); Marleen Israel, Virginia Beach Resort Hotel (dishwasher); and Byron Babcock, First Landing/Seashore State Park (volunteer).
Special awards went to Carleen Lombardo, director of sales for the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort; Kathleen Tatman, front desk clerk, Virginia Beach Hilton; Houman Iskandani, assistant front office manager, the Cavalier, and Bryan Bayerlein, busboy, Capt. George's-Laskin Road.
Melinda Shaw, a meeting planner in the catering department at The Founders Inn, was awarded a $500 scholarship by Richard Anoia on behalf of the Virginia Beach Resort Leadership Council.
Shaw, who is currently enrolled in Old Dominion University, will use the grant to complete the six hours of course work she needs to receive her degree.
Also honored at the luncheon were 28 citizen ``ambassadors'' who played a part in attracting events such as the 50th Anniversary D-Day Commemoration and the Virginia Office on Volunteerism annual conference to Virginia Beach. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by JO-ANN CLEGG
``Emma's one in a million!'' Emma Pinto's superiors at Ramada on the
Beach wrote in her nomination for the housekeeping award. ``Even
though she has a serious illness in her family and has two children
entering college this fall, she has never missed a day at work. Her
dedication to the hospitality industry is exemplary.''
by CNB