Hospitality Industry Best Honored at 2012 P.R.I.D.E. Awards
Hospitality Industry Best Honored at 2012 P.R.I.D.E. Awards
May 10 Event at DiamondJacks Casino and Hotel Honored Star Employees in Tourism and Hospitality Industry
SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER, LA – The Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau honored its best and brightest hospitality and tourism employees at its annual 2012 P.R.I.D.E. Awards Galas, Thursday, May 10, at DiamondJacks Casino and Hotel. Businesses, organizations, sales staff and front line employees were honored for their contributions to the industry. “P.R.I.D.E.” stands for “Proud Residents Involved in Developing Our Economy.”
The honorees and P.R.I.D.E. winners included:
Volunteerism Award
• Barksdale AFB Volunteer Resource Program
Tourism Awards
• Outstanding Exhibit - The Fantastic Mr. Fox, Shreveport Regional Arts Council and Bodies Revealed, Sci-Port: Louisiana’s Science Center
Tourism Partner Award
• Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino
• LAMAR Advertising
Icon Award
• “Fantastic Flying Confetti Parade”
Sports Awards
• Best Indoor Facility - CenturyLink Center
• Legendary Sporting Event - Sickle Cell Softball Tournament and River Cities Triathalon
• Best Outdoor Facility - Red River South Marina
• Shreveport-Bossier Sporting Event of the Year - 2012 Bassmaster Classic
Communication Awards
• Gulf Pig Underground Dinner Club, Chef Michael O’Boyle
• Community Blog Officianado, Robert Trudeau
• Use of Social Media, Red River Revel Arts Festival
• National Media Coverage, The Louisiana Film Prize
• Media Tour Fav, Geauxsicles
• Top Tourism Web Referral, CenturyLink Center
Convention Awards
• 9th Annual Vietnam Education Foundation, Shelley Humphrey
• Kappa Kappa Iota National, Mary Lou Hughes
• American Advertising Federation, Alan Hampton
• Southern Regional Summit, Bishop Larry L. Brandon
• Louisiana Municipal Association, Karen Barnes
New Properties
• Hampton Inn & Suites Shreveport/Bossier City-North
• Holiday Inn Express Suites Bossier City at Louisiana Downs
PRIDE Awards
Outstanding Performing Arts Professional
• John Bogan
• Anna Maria Sparke-Keele
Event of the Year
• Backlot Gala, Robinson Film Center
Outstanding Southern Hospitality Ambassador
• Waynette Ballengee
Outstanding Front Desk/Guest Services - Full Service
• Dolly Wood, Horseshoe Casino & Hotel
Outstanding Front Desk/Guest Services - Limited Service
• La’Tasha Taylor, Holiday Lanes
• Roshaunda Randall, Holiday Inn Express-West
Outstanding Chef - Casino & Fine Dining
• Cedric Williams, William B’s Restaurant at Sam’s Town Casino
Outstanding Chef - Casual Restaurant
• Robert “Boz” Baucum, Marilyn’s Place
Outstanding Food Server - Full Service
• Samir Kabalaoui, William B’s Restaurant at Sam’s Town Casino
Outstanding Banquet Staff
• Latonia Edwards, DiamondJacks Casino and Resort
Outstanding Culinary Staff
• Loraine Dunn
• Carmen Beard & Sammy Plater
• Wine Country’s Kitchen Staff
Outstanding Culinary Professional - Limited Service
• Johnetta Mitchell, Holiday Inn Express-West Shreveport
Outstanding Banquet Professional Sales
• Michelle Anderson-York, Harrah’s Louisiana Downs
Outstanding Bartender
• Angela Bryant, Ralph & Kacoo’s
Outstanding Valet
• Derrick Parker, Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino
Outstanding Bellman/Gift Shop Professional
• Rico Jones, Eldorado Resort & Casino
Outstanding Engineer
• Haden Brown, Holiday Lanes
Outstanding Housekeeping - Full Service
• Betty Spears, Eldorado Resort & Casino
Outstanding Housekeeping - Limited Service
• Christina Winn, Holiday Inn Express-West
Outstanding Hotel Sales Professional Director/Manager
• Janet Maldonado, DiamondJacks Casino & Resort
Outstanding Hotel Sales Professional - Full Service
• La’Keisha Holden, DiamondJacks Casino & Resort
Outstanding Hotel Sales Professional - Limited Service
• Cindy Lubbe, Courtyard by Marriott
Outstanding Slot Games Professional
• Michael Herzog, Sam’s Town Casino & Hotel
• Terri Timmons, Boomtown Casino & Hotel
Outstanding Table Games Professional
• Victor Arizmendi, Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino
Outstanding Attraction Professional
• Robin Williams, Holiday Lanes
• Bonne Sommers, Artspace
Outstanding Transportation Professional
• Jim Allen, Horseshoe Casino & Hotel
Outstanding Employee - Leadership
• Ashley Wade, Horseshoe Casino & Hotel
Outstanding Employee - Non-Leadership
• Connie Dison, Horseshoe Casino & Hotel
Outstanding Executive - Full Service
• Rob Brown, Horseshoe Casino & Hotel
• Sarah Parsons, DiamondJacks Casino & Resort
Outstanding Executive - Limited Service
• Tricia Crowder, Microtel Inn/Southern Hospitality
PRIDE Master
• Ray Ferland, Courtyard by Marriott
NOTE TO MEDIA: High-resolution images from the 2012 event are available upon request.