MMH&LA - the source for information and education, and the advocacy voice for the hotel and lodging industry in the metropolitan Memphis area.

MMHLAMMHLAMetropolitan Memphis Hotel & Lodging Association

www.mmhla.com

May 2015

MMHLA OFFICERS & BOARDMMHLA Offices:901-581-56188544 Rankin Branch Rd.Millington, TN 38053admin@mmhla.comwww.mmhla.comDeanna Ross Administrative Assistant

MMHLA Officers:Wayne Tabor........................ChairmanMary Calorio.........................PresidentTricia Weatherford........Vice PresidentDoug Owings.......................TreasurerMatt Huss.............................SecretaryJohn Rucker............Sergeant-at-armsMMHLA Board of Directors:Doug BrowneShawn DankoAnne-Marie FamaletteAngie HinesKevin KaneJimmy KiserPierre Landaiche

Chuck PinkowskiMatt HussSam WardTricia Weatherford Rick ZurburgDove Data Products

Ben Pinson662-420-0914pinsonben@gmail.com

N E W M E M B E R !

June 1, 2015

June 17 – MMHLA Golf TournamentNorth Creek Golf Course

To Make Reservations:Phone: 901-581-5618Email: admin@mmhla.com

Gates open 6 p.m. Game starts 7:05 p.m.

MRA MMHLA!REDBIRDS SOCIAL!AutoZone Park

FORE!! The MMHLA Golf Tournament is flying at you fast as a well-driven dimpled ball – June 17, Wednesday, 1 p.m. shotgun. New course: North Creek. 8770 North Creek Blvd, South-aven, MS 38671. Get your team together! Entry forms are at MMHLA.com. Information – Deanna Ross: 901-581-5618, admin@mmhla.com.

MMHLA Golf Tournament June 17!

Human TraffickingHuman TraffickingOnly in another country? Don’t you believe it!

Register now for the Southern Lodging Summit, August 18 & 19Register now for the Southern Lodging Summit, August 18 & 19, at www.SouthernLodgingSummit-Memphis.com. This year’s Summit focuses on technology and design. Don’t miss it!

How many times has the newsletter luncheon story said, you don’t want to miss this one! While the statement is generally true & there’s incredibly useful information from every luncheon speaker, this month’s topic surpasses all others & extends far beyond the scope of hospitality industry news.Human Trafficking. An extremely serious & heinous crime, it begs to be eradicated. Speaker Rachel

Sumner, currently executive director of Restore Corps (& Memphian/White Station/UofM alum), brings a wealth of information & advice on what we can do to prevent this vicious form of human misery. Send as many staff members as possible to learn about this worldwide crime. That’s Wednesday, May 20, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., at the Sheraton Memphis Down-

town.Here’s a portion of what you’ll hear.

MissionRestore Corps, a Christian agency, is the primary resource point in West Tennes-

see for eradicating human trafficking – by holistically empowering survivors, equip-ping communities to identify & abolish slavery, & seeking justice for the oppressed.Restoring LivesLooking at children playing in neighborhood yards & parks, it’s hard to realize hu-

man trafficking is a serious problem in Tennessee. Together we can make a differ-ence in the lives of those trafficked for commercial sex in our state.What is Human Trafficking?Estimates are that, worldwide, 30.2 million people live in slavery: some exploited for

commercial sex, others forced into domestic servitude, some – child soldiers. Slav-ery, maybe more severe in conflict zones, failed states, or areas where genocide occurs, also happens hear. It’s an international crime & it exists everywhere.There’s not much time – register now. Call, email, register online – numbers to the right!

page 2

Doug Owings, Allied Award of Excellence, Ow-ings Properties.

HoIiday Inn Select Downtown, winners of the Gold Star Public Relations Community Service Award.

Tracey Henninger, Sales Employee of the Year, Resi-dence Inn Downtown, Limited Service Property.

Nicole McGee, Lodg-ing Employee of the Year, Full Service Property, Madison Hotel.

Olga Sapega, Lodging Employee of the Year, Limited Service Property, Residence Inn Downtown.

Don Michael Norwood, Manager of the Year, Full Service Property, Westin Mem-phis Beale Street

Doris Ellis, Housekeeper of the Year, Limited Service Prop-erty, Elvis Presley’s Heartbreak Hotel.

Jeremie Skinner, Manager of the Year, Limited Service Property, FedEx Family House.

Andrea Franklin, Housekeeper of the Year, Full Service Property, Westin Memphis Beale Street.

Don Michael Norwood, Manager of the Year, Full Service Property Westin.

Fred Wilson, Mainte-nance Employee of the Year, Limited Service Property, Courtyard Mar-riott Collierville.

Bradford Toney, Upcoming Star of the Industry, Westin Mem-phis Beale Street.

MCVB: Patricia Brock, Nicole Selzer, Lisa Catron, Allison ?, John Oros, Malvin Gip-son, Gold Star PR.

Matt Huss, General Manager of the Year, Full Service Property, Sheraton Memphis Downtown.

Lisa Catron, Gold Star Public Relations Award, MCVB.

Kara Fleming, Miguel Aguila, Holiday Inn Express

Millington.

Patrick Jordan with his Westin Winners!

Jeremie Skinner & his FedEx Family House family!

Tricia Weatherford & Residence Inn Downtown Winners & associates.

Marvin Toney, Main-tenance Employee of the Year, Full Service Property, Peabody Memphis.

Anne-Marie Famalette & Courtyard by Marriott Collierville Winners & associates.

Matt Huss & Sheraton Memphis Downtown Winners.

STARSSTARSMarkus Blake, Food & Beverage Employee of the Year, Full Service Property, Westin Memphis Beale Street.

Lavincia Porter, Sales Em-ployee of the Year, Full Service Property, Holiday Inn Select Downtown.

Of The Industry!Of The Industry!Kooky Canuck’s Shawn Danko. His kids won $500 MMHLA scholarships! Also Richard Zurburg, Peggy Callahan.

So many Stars there’s hardly any room for comment! But here they are! The ones you selected as the best of the best of the best! The Award Ceremony took place Wednesday, April 22, at the Peabody Hotel. So keep an eye out as you go through your day, and

if you see a star, just say: WAY TO GO!

So many Stars there’s hardly any room for comment! But here they are! The ones you selected as the best of the best of the best! The Award Ceremony took place Wednesday, April 22, at the Peabody Hotel. So keep an eye out as you go through your day, and

if you see a star, just say: WAY TO GO!

Congratulations! to ALL our W I N N E R S !

page 3

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Like it never happened.R

March 20, at the Holiday Inn University of Memphis – questions &

answers, usually with a theme. Can you guess this year’s? Yes, most of the fun is dress up & playtime. So, next year you’d like to join in?

Trivia Night!Trivia Night!

We support MMHLA! So says the Memphis Servpro sales

team, from left to right; Rene’ Swain, Chris Fava, Nick Schifani, & Jeff Hobbs.With locations in Bartlett/Cordova,

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The Memphis Servpro Team! Rene’ Swain, Chris Fava, Nick

Schifani & Jeff Hobbs.

Peabody Groundskeeper, Willie Parker was honored last month by AHLA as the 2015 AHLA Out-standing Employee of the Year, Large Property. Willie was also MMHLA’s 2014 Maintenance Worker of the Year.

Hobbs. “Wherever there is a hotel full of water or an office full of smoke, you can count on Servpro to respond quickly.”With over 1,700 franchises in 48

states, there is no job to large or to small Servpro can’t handle. When fire and water take control of your life, Servpro helps you take it back! “Call us!” says Jeff. “We’ll be there for

you!” That number is 901-382-0900,

or 901-382-0282 fax, or jeff@servproeastmemphis.com.

Hearing impaired & mute since birth, Willie came to the Pea-body Memphis in 1986 through a government-funded, non-profit program called SRVS. The pro-gram ended, but the Peabody family decided they couldn’t do without Willie. I guess MMHLA & AHLA still agree about Willie’s value to the Peabody & the entire hospitality industry!

Peabody’s Willie Parker, 2015 AHLA Outstanding Employee of the Year,

Large Property

Peabody’s Willie Parker, 2015 AHLA Outstanding Employee of the Year,

Large Property

Kara Fleming, Miguel Aguila, Holiday Inn Express

Millington.

Anne-Marie Famalette & Courtyard by Marriott Collierville Winners & associates.

Matt Huss & Sheraton Memphis Downtown Winners.

Of The Industry!Of The Industry!

Marypage 4

Mary CalorioPresident, MMHLA

Do you see the stars? Do you see the stars? Then pick them out and honor them! Win-

ners will be announced and awards passed at the Apr. 22 MMHLA Luncheon Meeting at the Peabody Hotel, downtown Memphis.Deadline for nominations is Mar. 31, 2015.

Nomination forms are available at www.mmhla.com.Categories are: MMHLA General Manager of the Year.MMHLA Allied Award of Excellence.MMHLA Associate Award of Excellence.Food & Beverage Employee of the Year.Sales Employee of the Year.Lodging Employee of the Year.Manager of the Year.Housekeeper of the Year.Maintenance Employee of the Year.Upcoming Stars of the Industry.GOLD STAR PUBLIC RELATIONS

AWARDSCommunity Service Award.Guest Relations Award.Special Events Award.In 4 typed, double-spaced pages tell why

this nominee should be honored.Entries should be mailed (by March 31!)

to:MMHLA8544 Rankin Branch Rd.Millington, TN 38053Or emailed to:mmhladross@gmail.com.More information? 901-581-5618,

mmhladross@gmail.com or watch www.mmhla.com.You got stars out there. The world isn’t flat.

Honor your stars!

Hooray for Our Stars!! June 17 should be on everyone’s radar! That is the date for this year’s MMHLA Golf Tournament.

We have a new course this year—North Creek Golf Course in South-aven, MS. The golf tournament is one of our most enjoyable and fun events. The camaraderie of the en-tire day is second to none.

Oh, you don’t play golf—no prob-lem!!!! You can still come out and enjoy the day, I have plenty of honey–do’s for everyone. Please believe me when I say it takes a vil-lage to run the golf tournament, so

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So, How’Bout Some G o l f?

Mary

Mary CalorioPresident, MMHLA

volunteers are needed and appreciated. And the rewards are a most enjoyable and fun day! Golf, networking, and great food are benefits that you will reap when you sign up your team.

BUT the best benefit is that you will be helping to build our PAC. This is the only event we do where 100% of the proceeds goes to the PAC. Yes, we have other PAC events, but this is the only one that is 100% designated for the PAC. If you have not signed up to play golf for this worthy cause, please do not deny yourself this pleasure any longer. Call or email Deanna TODAY!!!!!

Golf information is below—check out their website.8770 N Creek Blvd Southaven, MS 38671-5399 United States Toll Free: (877) 465-3647 F: (662) 280-5041 http://www.wwncgolf.com

For Directions: http://www.bing.com/local?lid=YN493x8796130&id=YN493x8796130&q=North+Creek+Golf+Course+Southaven+MS

Last month, we honored the best of the best at our Stars of the Industry Award Luncheon. I just want to say thank you to ev-eryone who took the time to honor their employees by submitting them for

http://www.bing.com/local?lid=YN493x8796130&id=YN493x8796130&q=North+Creek+Golf+Course+Southaven+MS

our Stars of the Industry nomination requests. It is always very difficult to select the honorees, because all of the nominees are winners.

I will not list each individual who did win because of the coverage in the rest of the newsletter. We are truly privileged to have all of these employ-ees in our employment, and I thank each of our honorees and nominees for their positive contribution to Mem-phis Hospitality!!!! Without each of our employees, we could not host and entertain our guests.

So, as Elvis would say, Thank you, thank you very much!!

‘Nuff said. Till next month, same time, same place . . .

MMHLA8544 Rankin Branch Rd.

Millington, TN 38053

2015 CALENDARMay 20 – MMHLA Luncheon; Sheraton Downtown Memphis.June 1 – MRA/MMHLA Redbirds Social; AutoZone Park.June 2 – Board Meeting; Hilton Memphis.June 17 – MMHLA Golf Tournament; North Creek Golf Course.Jly. 15 – MMHLA Luncheon; Holiday Inn Select Downtown;Aug 18-19 – Southern Lodging Summit.Sept. 1 – Board Meeting; Holiday Inn Select Downtown.Sept. 16 – Luncheon; Holiday Inn University of Memphis.

Dates & locations subject to change. (*Indicates change from normal 3rd Wed. of month)All 2015 luncheon programs and locations are not yet set. If you would like to volunteer a venue or present a luncheon program please contact Deanna Ross. Her numbers are in the Upcoming Events box on the cover.