HSMAI Greater New York Chapter Honors Marriott for Tourism Achievement

The Greater New York Chapter of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) has awarded Marriott branded hotels in New York City with the 22nd Annual Frank W. Berkman Tourism Achievement Award and named the 2015 honorees for the Annual Hospitality Awards of Excellence.

The presentations took place on June 22, 2015, at the annual black-tie dinner/dance at the JW Marriott Essex House on Central Park South. Each of the evening's awards were designed to recognize and honor individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to the tourism industry in New York City.

The Frank W. Berkman Tourism Achievement Award, presented by Robert Arnold, President of Vizergy, on behalf of the Past Presidents' Council,was accepted by David S. Marriott, Chief Operations Officer - Americas Eastern Region for Marriott International.

"With 124 hotels and counting, Marriott has made a significant impact on New York City. The Marriott Marquis was the cornerstone of the Times Square redevelopment which led to a renaissance of the area that continues to this day," noted Laura Osborne, Chair of the Past President's Council, adding: "With such a broad spectrum of quality brands, Marriott has something for every visitor to our great city."

"The Greater New York Chapter of HSMAI was delighted to honor Marriott as the 2015 recipient of the Frank W. Berkman Tourism Achievement Award," said Osborne.

In addition to the Frank W. Berkman Tourism Achievement Award, The President's Award for Outstanding Service, presented by Consuela Hooblal, President of the HSMAI Greater New York Chapter and Regional Sales Manager of USA Today, was awarded to Lori O'Connell of Agency O'C.

For 2015, the HSMAI Greater New York Chapter named five individuals who were honored for their outstanding work and dedication to the hospitality industry and the sales and marketing profession, including:

• General Manager Of The Year: Robert Cardillo, General Manager, Wellington Hotel (presented by Site Minder)
• Revenue Management Executive Of The Year: Calvin Anderson, CRME, Director of Revenue, Hilton New York City Midtown (presented by Booking.com)
• Sales Executive Of The Year: Andrea Lo Picolo, Area Director of Sales, Denihan (presented by JW Marriott Essex House)
• Marketing Executive Of The Year: D. C. Becker, Principal, Titan Group of New York (presented by Manhattan Center)
• Hospitality Professional Of The Year: Kristin Forkin-Collins, Sales & Marketing Manager, Hard Rock Café New York (presented by Wellington Hotel)

Frank W. Berkman, CHME, was a former Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of HSMAI for 16 years. This award was created in 1994 by the Past President's Council of the HSMAI Greater New York Chapter and was named after Berkman because of his dedication to building HSMAI into the highly-influential international hospitality industry organization it is today.

Previous recipients recognized for their outstanding contributions to the tourism industry in New York City include:

• 2014 The Empire State Building
• 2013 Rockefeller Center
• 2012 NYC & Company
• 2011 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center
• 2010 Times Square Alliance
• 2009 United States Tennis Association U.S. Open
• 2008 New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg
• 2007 Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes
• 2006 Jonathan Tisch, Chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels
• 2005 ING New York City Marathon
• 2004 The Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting
• 2003 Macy*s
• 2002 New York City FDNY, EMTs, NYPD & Port Authority Police
• 2001 Starwood Hotels
• 2000 The League of American Theatre & Producers
• 1999 The Today Show
• 1998 Donald Trump
• 1997 New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani
• 1996 Arthur Surin, Senior Vice President of Hilton Hotels Corporation
• 1995 Robert Preston Tisch, Chairman of the Board for Loews Hotels
• 1994 Charles Gillette, Chair of the New York Convention & Visitors Bureau

Media Contact

Kathie Stapleton

Executive Director HSMAI Greater New York [email protected] +1 914 762 1456