Nominees Announced for the Tourism Professional of the Year Award
The nominees for the 30th Annual South Florida Tourism Professional of the Year Award have just been announced. The distinguished nominees are:
· Steve Adkins, Miami Dade Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
· Rolando Aedo, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau
· DeAnne Connolly Graham, ROi Media Consultants
· Julie Grimes, The Heafey Group
· Charles Kropke, Dragonfly Expeditions
· Peter Ricci, Ed.D., Florida Atlantic University
· Troy Wright, Washington Avenue Business Improvement District
The nominees will be honored at the award luncheon, hosted by the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism (AOHT) Advisory Board, on September 30, 2021 at the Hyatt Regency Miami, the event’s Host Sponsor. The luncheon MC will be WSVN’s Belkys Nerey. The featured speakers of the luncheon will include celebrity chef, Michelle Bernstein, and Florida International University Dean, Dr. Michael Cheng.
In addition to the Hyatt Regency Miami being the Host Sponsor of the event, Show Tech, a South Florida based audio visual production company, is supporting the event as a Signature Sponsor. REEF, the largest operator of mobility, logistics hubs, and neighborhood kitchens in North America is a Platinum Sponsor of the event.
Past recipients of the Tourism Professional of the Year Award include George Neary, Tours “R” Us, Wendy Kallergis, GMBHA, Henry Delgado, Smith & Wollensky, Rocco Angelo, Florida International University Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, William Talbert, III, Alvin West, Sr. GMCVB, and Academy Founders, Stuart Blumberg, Retired, Greater Miami & the Beaches Hotel Association, Bob Dickinson, Retired, Carnival Cruise Lines, and the late Tony Goldman, Goldman Properties, Jeanne Westphal, Dean Lee Dickson, FIU and Alyce M. Robertson, Miami Downtown Development Authority.
The Academy of Hospitality and Tourism is a member of the non-profit, NAF. For over thirty years, NAF has refined a proven model that provides young people access to industry-specific curricular, work-based learning experiences and prepares them for college and industry careers. Academies are in 16 Miami public high schools. Proceeds of the luncheon benefit work-based learning activities and scholarships for AOHT students and professional development for teachers.
Tickets for the Tourism Professional of the Year Award luncheon are $125.00 for an individual ticket or $1000 for a table of 10. Educators may purchase individual tickets for $80.00 and a table for $800. To purchase tickets for the luncheon, go to https://conta.cc/3efDNLf For additional ticket information, contact Julie Kennedy at 305.693.3017 or e-mail juliekennedy@dadeschools.net