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 The
fifth Annual HOSPY Awards Gala for excellence in the hospitality
Industry was presented by the Las Vegas chapter of NEWH, the
Hospitality Industry’s Network, at a beautiful event in WYNN’s
Latour Ballroom. The ballroom was filled to capacity with
guests from all facets of the Hospitality Industry.
The evening’s festivities began with a VIP Party. A
Cocktail Reception/Silent Auction followed with live music,
while a plasma screen featured sponsor logos and award entries.
Afterwards, the elegantly dressed attendees entered the ballroom
for dinner, live auction and Awards Presentations. This 5th
Annual Awards program recognized deserving individuals and firms
in the Hospitality Industry for extraordinary achievements in
architecture, design and development. A special panel of
distinguished judges evaluated the entries. They were: Paul
Heretakis, Stacy Shoemaker Rauen and Hannah Joseph. Nominees and
award recipients were announced during the HOSPY Awards Dinner
Gala.
A special sumptuous dinner was served as the live auction
took place between courses. The first course was:
Chopped Salad on Heirloom Tomato Carpaccio Fra Mani Salumi,
Tuscan Pecorino, Parmesan Cheese, Butter Lettuce, Romain and
Italian Vinaigrette
Entrée’ consisted of Petit Filet of Beef and Lobster Gratin
Fondant Potato, Fall Vegetables Sauce Bordelaise
Dessert:
Baked Alaska a la Wynn Vanilla and Strawberry
The Live Auction bidding was intense and brought in a vast
amount of funds that will allow more deserving students to work
towards a future within the industry.
The Las Vegas Chapter of NEWH, the Hospitality Industry Network,
a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, raises scholarship funds
for deserving students in the hospitality industry, including
the culinary arts, architecture, design and hotel management
operations.
Rocky La Fleur of Kneedler Fauchere and Joel Kazar of ABA
were the events Live Auctioneers. An exciting part of the live
auction had excessive bidding for Lunch with Brad Friedmutter.
Sandy Peltyn of DeSimone Consulting Engineers did not hear the
last bid of $3200 and the bidding was called sold, and over.
Sandy then announced she would give another $3200, the same
amount of the sold bid to have lunch with Brad Friedmutter. The
additional bid was accepted. I wonder where the $3200 Lunch
will be, and what will be served.
KTNV-TV 13 News Anchor Tricia Kean and Meteorologist Bryan
Scofield emceed the presentation awards. Tricia Kean co-anchors
Channel 13’s 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. newscasts and also heads Contact
13, KTNV’s problem-solving investigative unit. Bryan Scofield
reports on the 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts. Music was
provided by The Jazz Cargot Trio, featuring Mike Candito (drums
and vocals), Greg Bowers (piano) and Jeff Davis (Bass).
Andrea Thomas, president of NEWH started the awards ceremony
saying, “Las Vegas sets the standard for Hospitality Design. The
eyes of the world are compelled to observe and emulate the
leading edge design of our Hospitality
Industry.”
Nominees and Winners for each category of the 2008 HOSPY AWARDS
were announced. Award Recipients came onstage to receive their
award and were invited to speak.
The Hospitality Industry Achievement Award was presented to
Brad Friedmutter, AIA, the acclaimed Founder and CEO of
Friedmutter Group, a firm that provides award-winning
Architecture, Themed Design, Master Planning, Interior Design
and Branding services to the Gaming and Hospitality Industry.
Prior to coming onstage to receive his award, a video of his
life was shown. Brad Friedmutter was honored for providing
award winning Architecture
and Interior Design to the gaming and hospitality industry.
Brad Friedmutter is a registered architect in Nevada and 41
other states and a graduate of Cooper Union School of
Architecture. He has more than 30 years of experience in the
Gaming/Hospitality Industry and has worked as Vice President of
design and construction for Steve Wynn at Atlandia Design and at
Bally’s Entertainment as Vice President of design and
construction. Incorporated in 1992, Friedmutter Group employs
more than 160 design professionals and has offices in Las Vegas,
NV; New York, NY; Newport Beach, CA; Atlantic City, NJ; Miami
Beach, FL; Biloxi, MS; Hong Kong, and Dubai UAE.
Other Awards Recipients:
Best Lobby – Cunningham Group for Isleta
Casino & Resort
Hospitality Retail Space – Tandem for Annie Cream Cheese
Boutique.
Best Suite – Steelman Partners for the Sands Macau Hotel
Best Typical Room – Steelman Partners for Hard Rock, Biloxi
Best Casino Space – Steelman Partners Casino at the Empire,
Leicaster Square, London
Ballroom/Convention Space - Tandem
Best Casual Restaurant – MGM Mirage Design Group for BLT
Burger, Mirage Las Vegas
Best Buffet – MGM Grand Resorts Development for the Palette
Dining Studio, MGM Grand Detroit
Best Country Club – Herbert Gordon Press for Spanish Trail
Country Club
Best Spa – MGM Mirage Design Group
Best Librarian – Julie Zweifel of Cleo Design
Best Purchasing Agent – Paradigm Purchasing
Best Fine Dining Restaurant - Friedmutter group for Hachi
Restaurant, Red Rock Casino Resort
Best Night Club = Wynn Design & Development for Blush
Best Boutique Hotel – Cunningham Group for Isleta Hotel &
Resort, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Previous NEWH Las Vegas Industry Achievement award
recipients were: Elizabeth Blau, Paul Steelman, Roger Thomas,
Janellen Radoff, and Charles Silverman.
Special accolades to Trish Williamson who worked so hard to
make this event a success.
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