The Massachusetts Lodging Association Honors Industry Community Nominees, Names Winners and Recognizes Leadership at Annual Stars of the Industry Event

BOSTON, MA – The Massachusetts Lodging Association hosted a sold-out 2026 Stars of the Industry event at Fenway Park on June 2, 2026 to honor exemplary employees and unique programs in the lodging industry, highlighting service that goes above and beyond a hotelier’s line of duties to ensure a phenomenal experience for all guests. Emcee’d by NESN’s Jenny Johnson, this event brought together over 450 attendees, making it one of the MLA’s most coveted events.

Today's nominees have demonstrated not only tenacity, courage, and compassion, but also a spirit of cooperation and adaptability. They are people who understand: victory at the highest level comes from working as a team.

MLA President and CEO Christina Pappas

2026 MLA Board Chair Trish Berry added, “The individuals who were honored today embody the very essence of our industry. Their dedication, innovation, and passion serve as an inspiration to us all.”

This annual celebration has one mission: to acknowledge and celebrate the shining stars whose contributions elevate the standards of excellence in lodging. New this year, the MLA recognizes stars of our industry in both front and back of the house roles in hotels with 250 rooms or less, 251–500 rooms, and 500+ rooms. We welcomed the Inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award Class of 2026 and awarded the first Amicus Hospitum Award – a new award selected by the MLA and distributed at any MLA event.

Join us in celebrating this year's recipients of the Stars of the Industry Awards:

Community Service

• 250 rooms or less: Four Seasons Hotel One Dalton Street, Boston – Camp Dalton Dreams

• 251–500 rooms: Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor – HYBO Helping Hands Under HEI Loves

• 500+ rooms: The Westin Copley Place, Boston – Community Service Initiatives

Employee Relations

• 250 rooms or less: Pelham House Resort/Pelham Hospitality – Protectors of Pelham – POP/Tell Me Something Good

• 251–500 rooms: The Newbury Boston – The Quarter Century Club

• 500+ rooms: Hilton Boston Park Plaza – Five-Star Friday

Innovation

• 250 rooms or less: Raffles Boston – The Art of the Donut: A Weekly Ritual at Raffles Boston

• 251–500 rooms: The Liberty Hotel – Liberty Loves Initiatives

Amicus Hospitum

• Boston Hotel Watch

Outstanding Manager of the Year – Front of House

• 250 rooms or less: Tara Rothburg, Kimpton Marlowe Hotel

• 251–500 rooms: Madelyne Warny, Hyatt Place Boston/Seaport District

• 500+ rooms: John Hines, Omni Parker House

Outstanding Manager of the Year – Back of House

• 250 rooms or less: Maxwell Theissen, Four Seasons Hotel One Dalton Street, Boston

• 251–500 rooms: Lexeen White, The Langham, Boston

• 500+ rooms: Patrice Skelton, Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport

Stevan Porter Emerging Hospitality Leader of the Year

• 250 rooms or less: Max Wesp, Wequassett Resort and Golf Club

• 251–500 rooms: David Kim, The Newbury Boston

• 500+ rooms: Daniel Han, Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport

Employee of the Year – Front of House

• 250 rooms or less: Marjan Etemad Moghaddam, Hampton Inn Boston-Natick

• 251–500 rooms: Erdi Kaja, Revere Hotel Boston Common

• 500+ rooms: Devon Varmahmoodi, Hilton Boston Park Plaza

Employee of the Year – Back of House

• 250 rooms or less: Jose Alfredo Morales, Canopy By Hilton Boston Downtown

• 251–500 rooms: Weike Sammy Li, Fairmont Copley Plaza

• 500+ rooms: Scotty Williams, Boston Marriott Copley Plaza

Lifetime Achievement Award – 2026 Inaugural Class

• Pauline (Joy) Leslie, Boston Marriott Cambridge

• Senad Avdic, The Charles Hotel

• William (Bill) Anacone, The Colonnade Hotel

• Norman Maines, The Colonnade Hotel

• Richard Mahase, Fairmont Copley Plaza

• Timothy Kirkpatrick, Hilton Boston Park Plaza

• Onofrio “Vinnie” Chiaravalloti, Hyatt Regency Boston/Cambridge

• Kate Casey, Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport

“The MLA looks forward to seeing the new heights you all will continue to achieve,” said Pappas. “You are the lifeblood of our industry, and each of you has touched the lives of those around you in indescribable ways.”

All winners will be submitted to national nomination for the American Hotel & Lodging Association Stars of the Industry Awards, which parallel the Massachusetts Lodging Association awards.