Lifetime Achievement award goes to Park Hyatt’s Gomes

TORONTO—Joe Gomes (shown here at the rooftop bar of the Park Hyatt Hotel, where he has worked for 53 years) was the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the first ever Greater Toronto Hotel Association (GTHA) Spirit Awards.

The event, held April 27 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, was sold out with 350 attendees, many of whom were there to cheer on nominees from their hotel.  It was billed as “a celebration of exceptional ambassadors in the hotel community of the Greater Toronto Area.”

Other award winners include:

• Accounting Ambassador of the Year—Linda Atagi, InterContinental Toronto Yorkville;

• Administration Ambassador of the Year—Krista Kungla, Cambridge Suites Hotel Toronto

• Banquet F&B Ambassador of the Year—Steve Mertsis, The Fairmont Royal York;

• Bell Person Ambassador of the Year—Bilal Saab, InterContintal Toronto Centre;

• Concierge of the Year—Sherine Sutherland, InterContinental Toronto Centre;

• Culinary Ambassador of the Year—Red Garcia, Hilton Toronto;

• Engineering Ambassador of the Year—Jose Linharas, Radisson Admiral Hotel;

• Guest Services Ambassador of the Year—Jennifer Dover, Renaissance Toronto Downtown Hotel;

• Health Club/Spa Ambassador of the Year—Josh Stone, The Fairmont Royal York;

• Housekeeping Ambassador of the Year—Cecilia Battad, Westin Harbour Castle;

• Laundry Ambassador of the Year—Rose Douglas, Toronto Airport Marriott Hotel;

• Reservations Ambassador of the Year—Clint Aquino, Novotel Mississauga;

• Restaurant F&B Ambassador of the Year—Stephen Bossence, Le Meridien King Edward;

• Security Ambassador of the Year—Mark Ducusin, Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel;

• Steward of the Year—Ramonito Ancog, Delta Toronto East;

• Switchboard Operator of the Year—Tina Terzo, The Westin Prince, Toronto; and

• Shuttle Driver/Valet/Door Ambassador of the Year—Antonio Murugupillai, Hotel Le Germain Toronto.