OCR Text |
Show Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, November 13-16, 2010 The Park Record Local lodging stars honored Four Park City workers are 'Stars of the Industry' A-9 ONANZA By ANDREW KIRK of the Record Staff Park City lodging employees won four of the seven "Stars of the Industry" awards at this year's Utah Hotel & Lodging Association annual convention. Nominations from throughout the state were judged by students in the Hospitality Management program at Utah Valley University. The winners were announced last month. While their jobs are quiet different, these "Stars of the Industry" described their motivations similarly: they enjoy their jobs and benefit from strong teamwork. General Manager of the Year Ten Whitney arrived in Park City in 1977 with a familiar story: she came to ski, stayed for life. She started at Snow Flower Condominiums in 1980 and worked her way up to general manager. "It was a good industry to get into in Park City back in the 1970s. (Skiing) was just getting started... there were only two or three companies," she said. Snow Flower Condos has 142 residences ranging from studios to six-bedroom suites. That's large enough to provide a lot of variety in a career, she said. ll I just really enjoy the project, the people, the owners and my staff is incredible; it's just a really good environment," she said. The lodging industry is a fun one to work in, Whitney said, because it's always changing and never gets stale. Whitney attributed her success to the fact that everyone at her property helps one another. No one ever says, "That's not my job/ 1 "No one points fingers; they resolve an issue and hopefully we learn from it and things don't happen again," she said. Whitney has brought that attitude of mutual support to her 2f jyears of membership in the Jfark City Area Lodging Association. She has served on the board nearly every year since its inception and currently serves as its treasurer. Housekeeping Employee Maggie Huerte Rea is the housekeeping supervisor at Newpark Hotel. She is on vacation this month, but her supervisor Marci Whitaker said she's one of those people you can count on to always do herjobanddoit well. "She started as a room attendant and moved into a supervisory role. She has just blossomed. She works very fast and needs a lot to do," Whitaker said. "She's very particular and wants things done right." . Rea has a good work ethic and sets high standards, Whitaker said. "She works with little or no supervision... it's a great quality when you can trust a person ROADWORK15 COMPLETE! Bonanza Drive is fully paved and traffic is flowing unimpeded through all segments! (Still finishing up some street lighting and landscaping, but the road is done!) Clockwise from top left: Maggie Huerte Rea (photo submitted), Gabriel Astudillo (by Erik Daenitz), Teri Whitney (by Grayson West), and Gloria Kennedy {by Erik Daenitz). to do what they need to do," she added. As a supervisor, Whitaker said she is very organized and is able to coordinate the staff and help out wherever it is needed. And she never misses a day of work. "She's good at decision making and seeing what needs to be done," Whitaker said. Engineering Employee Gabriel Astudillo has worked in maintenance engineering at the Stein Eriksen Lodge for almost nine years and has been in the hotel industry nearly his entire working life, he said. Even as a young man in Mexico, he started at a fivestar hotel. He enjoys the challenge of working at luxury properties, he said. "It's never the same thing every day. It's really fun," he said. One minute he might be helping a guest light their fireplace and another he could be solving an electrical problem. If a guest has trouble working their television or getting their laptop to connect to the Internet, someone from the engineering staff gets called, he said. Like Whitney, Astudillo said another reason he enjoys his work is no one ever says, "That's not my job." In order to provide five-star, five-diamond service everyone must put the needs of the guests first. "When guests request something, we must be there as soon as possible... a guest's problem is our problem," he said. Because he might be called on to do any number of things, Astudillo said he's always learning. "Stein Eriksen Lodge is like a university," he explained. Some guests are certainly more demanding than others, but that's part of the challenge he enjoys, he said. Whenever, he's told to respond to a need from a guest, he must assess their needs and tastes to provide them the best service possible. One of the side benefits of a supportive, instructional environment is everyone gets along well and enjoys being around each other, he said. "We help each other... this is like a second home, it's like having a big family in a big place," he added. Concierge of the Year Gloria Kennedy loves to joke that she literally "fell into" her career as a concierge. While attending school in Maryland she took a shortcut through a construction site and fell into a hole. While climbing out she looked around to figure out where she was and saw a sign - again, literally - that said "Hyatt Regency Bethesda - opening late fall - employment opportunities." She's been a concierge ever since. Kennedy said she agrees with motivational speaker Holly Stiel that people become concierges because they love to nurture and serve. Nothing makes their day like solving another person's problem. "I've tried other "things... but I always come back to it," she said. "I love working with people and I need to feel like I'm caring for people." A friend recruited her to join the team at St. Regis Deer Crest. Kennedy said she enjoys how Starwood Hotels supports everyone in being the best they can be. "The company supports you in taking care of the guest and doing what needs to be done... and they've supported my growth in the profession," she said. Kennedy is a member of Les Clefs d'Or, or "golden keys," a professional organization for concierges. Several members reside in Utah, but there is no official chapter here. Kennedy would like to begin one. Other winners Other winners include Enrique Yescas of the Layton Hilton Garden Inn for Manager of the Year, Elise Larsen from the- same for Lodging Employee of the Year, and Dennis Porter from the Red Lion Hotel for Sales. GIT YER COWBOY/COWGIRL ONF AT THE SUMMIT COUNTY BEEF THE MARKET AT PARK CITY, SATURDAY NOV. 20TH FROM N00N-2PM • Support your fantastic community ranchers and merchants who are committed to providing Summit County with LOCAL, GRASS, ; FED beef! The Market at Park City will be the source for Summit ! • County Beef this winter, from mid November through February. So come on by to say howdy to all the folks who have been working on ? this local initiative for the past year, enjoy a tasty grassfed burger and j find out about our exciting local food initiative for Summit County. Rope-cutting and special "branding of the beef" • Grassfed burgers on the grill IV '. 1:1 ,-; ' M ^ Come on over and Celebrate! It's Time for Holiday Shopping! Bonanza Park businesses welcome you! Alan Schoenberger's Ski Studio Align Spa All Resort Car Rental Alpine Electric Company, Inc Alpine Survey American Mailing Services Anaya's Market AvantLink.com ••-- - Berrett Mortgage Bill White Enterprises Restaurant Group Blakeslee Advertising Booster Juice Bubba's Paint Buggy Bath Car Wash Butcher's Chop House & Bar Byer Excav8ing Comcast Designs by Knight District Gallery dti Publishing Educational Advantage, Inc Einstein Bros Bagels El Chubasco Endurance Cycle 5ervice Evergreen Engineering, Inc Fairweather Natural Foods Fireside Apartments Fischer Productions Fischer West Development Gigaplex Architects Iron Horse Properties Jans Mountain Outfitters ; JillPackham,CPA Jordan Development Services Julie Nester Gallery Juliy Marie Pilates Studio Land Solutions Planning & Design Lee Caruso, Esq Maverick Country Store Mercer Automotive & Detailing - Milestone Management, Inc r i Namaste Chiropractic, LLC v ; •%..,. Nick-n-Willy's *': ,•/ No Name Saloon & Grill \ '**'" No Place Like Home 01 Miner Car Wash www.summitcouritybeef.on 01 Miner Express Auto Care Panic Button Media Park City Chamber Park City Chiropractic Clinic Park City Clinic Park City Lodging Association Park City Mountain Resort Park City Ptaza ParkCityRacqijetClub , Park City Recycling Center Park City Signs Park City Ski Team Park City Title Company Park City Transportation Park City Yoga Studio Park Record Park Regency Peter Anthony's Studio PJ Builders, Inc Planned Parenthood Plaza Dry Cleaners Podium Skis Powdr Corporation Revolution Driving Instruction Riff's Acoustic Music Co. Right Angle Picture Framing Right At Home San Francisco Design Ski Butlers Skis on the Run Sletta Construction Solar Nails Subway Team Health Care The Spa Source The Storage Depot The Sweat Shop The Taco Maker Van Cott Bagley Cornwall & McCarthy Van Wagner Sports Marketing Whimsy .^ijv White Pine Touring •;t:";\V:'•"*- Windy Ridge Bakery Windy Ridge Cafe ' Wintzer Wolfe Ying's Laundromat Thank you for your support Construction Hotline: 435.615.5190 or visit the website at bonanzadrive.com Special appearance and music by Hired Guns The Summit County Food Coalition is made up of Summit County ranchers, government representatives, local non-profits and businesses working together to support a local food initiative here in Summit County, Utah.This is the Coalitions first project. J BONANZA PARK ?•***-:;:• |