Board of Directors

2022-2023 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

 

Jerry Fischer
Chairman
Executive Vice President
HSL Properties

 

Paul Gray
Chair, Valley
General Manager
Arizona Grand Resort & Spa

 

 

Joe Iturri
Chair, Education
General Manager
Caesars Republic Scottsdale

 

SueAnn Lemon
Chair, Southern AZ

Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Choice Region 12 Co-op/Focus Hospitality Management

 

Jeff Meyer
Chair, Finance
Past President
Cactus League Baseball Association

 

Bettina Nava
Chair, Government Affairs
President
OH Strategic Communications

 

Dan Rama
Chair, Membership & Events
Principal & Managing Partner
NewGen Worldwide

 

Linda Brady
Executive Committee
Senior Government
Relations Representative
SRP

 

Stan Kantowski
Executive Committee
Managing Director Enchantment Resort & Mii Amo

 

Ron Price
Executive Committee
President & CEO
Visit Phoenix

 

Rachel Sacco
Executive Committee
President & CEO
Experience Scottsdale

 

 Kim Grace Sabow
President & CEO
Arizona Lodging & Tourism Association 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Dharmesh Ahir
Southwest Regional Chair
AAHOA

Ghee Alexander

Chief Operating Officer
Desert Hospitality Management

 

Steve Barclay
Executive Director
Beer & Wine Distributors of AZ

 

Danette Bewley
President & CEO
Tucson Airport Authority

 

Patrick Connors
General Manager
Hilton Phoenix Resort at the Peak

 

Michelle Conway
President & CEO
Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau

 

Kevin Cooper
Vice President/GM Arizona Group Enterprise Holdings

 

Steve Eberhart
General Manager
Renaissance Glendale Hotel & Spa

Herschel Fink

Government Affairs Representative
Arizona Public Service

 

Shelby Francom
General Manager
Hilton El Conquistador Tucson
A Hilton Resort

Felipe Garcia

President & CEO
Visit Tucson

 

Marc Garcia
President & CEO
Visit Mesa

John Graham

Chairman and CEO
Sunbelt Holdings

 

Geoffrey Grey
Managing Director & GM
The Global Ambassador

 

 

Sherry Henry
Director of Sales
Grace Hospitality Group

 

Rick Huffman
President & CEO
HCW

 

 Patti Hunt 
Corporate Director of Operations
Stanford Hotels Corporation

 

Kevin Kelly
General Manager
The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain

 

Matt Ligouri
Manager, Public Affairs
Southwest Gas

 

Lonnie Lillie
General Manager
Aiden by Best Western Sedona

 

 

Paige Lund
General Manager
JW Marriott Desert Ridge
Resort & Spa

 

Chad Makovsky
Director of Aviation Services
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

 

Gregg Martinez
Economic Development Coordinator, City of Page
and President & CEO of Visit Page

 

Jack McCain
Director, State and Local Government Affairs (PHX)
American Airlines

 

Robb McCreary
Hotel Director
Casino Arizona/ Talking Stick

 

Ash Patel
President & CEO
Southwest Hospitality Management

Leo Percopo

Area General Manager
JW Marriott Camelback Resort & Spa

 

Amilyn Pierce
Vice President, Government Affairs
Arizona Diamondbacks

 

Joe Radetich
Branch Manager
Shamrock Foods Company

Don Rea

Vice President,
The PGA of America and
Owner/Operator, Augusta Ranch Golf Club
Mesa, Arizona

Gloria Ruvalcaba

Executive Administrator
Crescent Crown Distributing

 

Cal Sheehy
General Manager
London Bridge Resort

 

Kris Strauss
EVP, Global Sales & Marketing
TROON

 

Neal Williams
Divisional Vice President,
Venues Southwest
ENCORE

Nomination Criteria

Application Guidelines

All honorees must be employed by hotels, attractions, tourism businesses, hospitality or other supporting businesses that are of the Arizona hospitality industry.

Who can enter?

The Stars of the Industry awards competition is open to all Arizona hospitality businesses, hotels, and tourism employees.

Who can nominate a Star?

Anyone! A nominator can be an employer, a manager, a friend, regular customer, or anyone else who knows a Star in Arizona’s hospitality industry who deserves recognition.

What does it cost to enter?

Entering or nominating for the Stars of the Industry Awards is free.

What do nominees receive?

All nominees will receive an AzLTA Stars of the Industry Recognition Certificate.  The winners of each award will be announced at the Stars of the Industry Awards Luncheon on June 16, 2023 and receive an engraved plaque at the awards presentation.  All winners will be announced in AzLTA’s Industry Insider newsletter, by a press release, and on the AzLTA website. Winners will automatically be entered in the American Hotel and Lodging Association’s national Stars of the Industry Awards program. It is AzLTA’s privilege to celebrate the accomplishments of all the nominees and winners presented each year.

Nominations and Eligibility

The nomination process begins in April and we’ve made it easy.  Simply complete the online nominee application form and email the application to AzLTA explaining why the nominee deserves the Star award in their category.

Rules & Judging Criteria

Nominees must have served in the industry for a minimum of two years (please state total number of years in description) and will be judged on performance beyond normal job responsibilities, professionalism, and outstanding and unusual service to the property, guests and the community.

Using no more than three double-spaced pages, describe why your nominee should be honored. Give examples of:

  • Extraordinary support to fellow employees.
  • Specific event(s) that best describes the nominee’s exceptional service.
  • Outstanding leadership qualities, heroic deeds or actions that consistently add to the general well-being of guests.
  • Other great accomplishments to the industry or community.

Include photos and any materials substantiating the award entry, such as letters of commendation, guest comment cards, news clippings and other support materials received during 2021-2023 for the judges’ consideration.

2022 HONOREES