Board of Directors

2023-2024 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

 

Dan Rama
Chairman of the Board
Principal & Managing Director
NewGen Worldwide

 

Jerry Fischer
Immediate Past Chairman
Executive Vice President
HSL Properties 

 

Ghee Alexander
Chair Southern Arizona
Chief Operating Officer
Desert Hospitality

 

Steve Eberhart
Chair, Finance
General Manager
Renaissance Glendale Hotel and Spa

 

Joe Iturri
Chair, Education
General Manager
Caesars Republic Scottsdale

 

Stan Kantowski
Chair, Membership & Events
Managing Director
Enchantment Resort & Mii amo

 

Amilyn Pierce
Chair, Government Affairs
Vice President Government Affairs
Arizona Diamondbacks

 

Rachel Sacco
Chair, Valley
President & CEO
Experience Scottsdale

 

Marc Garcia
Executive Committee
President & CEO
Visit Mesa

 

Paul Gray
Executive Committee
General Manager
Arizona Grand Resort and Spa

 

Rick Huffman
Executive Committee
President & CEO
HCW

 

Ron Price
Executive Committee
President & CEO
Visit Phoenix

 

Matt Ligouri
Executive Committee
Manager Public Affairs
Southwest Gas

 

Kim Grace Sabow
President & CEO
Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Dharmesh Ahir
Southwest Regional Chair
AAHOA

 

Steve Barclay
Executive Director
Beer & Wine Distribution of AZ

 

Danette Bewley
President & CEO
Tucson Airport Authority

 

Bridget Binsbacher
Executive Director
Cactus League Baseball Association

 

Dennis Caldwell
Principal & President
Caldwell Watza Construction

 
Patrick Connors 
General Manager
Hilton Phoenix Resort at the Peak
 

Kevin Cooper
Vice President/GM Arizona
Enterprise Mobility

 

David Craig
Managing Director
Canyon Ranch Tucson

 

Derek Ellis
General Manager
Westin Kierland Resort & Spa

 

Herschel Fink
Goverment Affairs Representative
Arizona Public Service

 

John Fitzgibbons III
President
PINK JEEP TOURS /
Herschend Enterprise

 

Shelby Francom
General Manager
Hilton El Conquistador Tucson
A Hilton Resort

 

Felipe Garcia
President & CEO
Visit Tucson

 

Rob Goins
General Manager
Omni Scottdale Resort & Spa Montelucia

 

Melissa Goldenberg
Sr. Vice President, General Counsel
Phoenix Suns & Mercury

John Graham

Chairman & CEO
Sunbelt Holdings

 

Geoffrey Gray
Managing Director & GM
The Global Ambassador

 

Jody Harwood
VP & Managing Director
Grace Hospitality

 

 Patti Hunt 
Corporate Director of Operations
Stanford Hotels Corporation

 

Kevin Kelly
General Manager
The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain

 

Grace Klawitter
Senior Strategic Energy Manager
SRP

 

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

Matt Lebowitz

Vice President of Sales
On Premise Republic National Distributing Company

 

Chad Makovsky
Director of Aviation Services
Phoenix Sky Harbor
International Airport

 

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

 

Michael Morton
VP Brand Management & Member Services
BWH Hotels

 

Neil Shah
President
Inntech Management

 

Ash Patel
President & CEO
Southwest Hospitality Management

 

Leo Percopo
Area General Manager
JW Marriott Camelback Resort & Spa

 

Joe Radetich
Branch Manager
Shamrock Foods Company

 

Don Rea
Vice President,
The PGA of America &
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

 

Beatrice Turcu
Choice Region 12 Co-op
Council & General Manager
Comfort Suites at Tucson

 

Neal Williams
Divisional Vice President,
ENCORE Venues Southwest

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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