SAVE THE DATE: Monday, October 30, 2023
The second annual Champions of Hospitality Awards & Gala event will take place Monday, October 30 at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa Indian Wells. This event recognizes the best and brightest in our local hospitality industry each year. Award nominations will open in May 2023.
The first annual Champions of Hospitality Awards & Gala event was held at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa on November 30, 2022, with more than 600 travel industry professionals from across the Coachella Valley attending. All proceeds from the event supported the Greater Palm Springs Tourism Foundation, established in 2018 to promote diverse programming related to the hospitality, convention, and tourism industries. The Tourism Foundation awarded $40,000 in scholarships in 2022, including 17 college students from across the Coachella Valley and five senior students from Coachella Valley High School’s Hospitality Academy.
Emceed by NBC Palm Springs reporter and weekend anchor Kamari Esquerra and NBC Palm Springs Emmy Award-winning film critic/host Manny the Movie Guy, the event celebrated the resilient and innovative spirit of the Greater Palm Springs tourism and hospitality industry. View the event's opening video in the gallery below.
The Spirit of Tourism Award -- presented to an exemplary organization or individual who embodies the spirit of tourism in the valley and has worked diligently to move the overall industry forward in both actions and spirit -- was presented to Tom Scaramellino, General Manager of the Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa.
More than 170 nominations were received for the event, and awards were presented to 5 rising stars in the tourism industry and 19 individuals in the Hospitality Award category. In addition, 5 specialty awards were presented in recognition for Visitor Experience in the categories of arts & culture; outdoor experiences; health & wellness; culinary; and diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging. Two additional specialty awards recognized individuals making a significant impact in the areas of sustainability and diversity.
The evening included a posthumous tribute to Robert Del Mas, who served as General Manager and Director of Sales at the Empire Polo Club and was a member of the Visit Greater Palm Springs Board of Directors for 14 years. Del Mas was highly respected for not only his dedication and commitment to the industry, but also his kind, selfless, and genuinely caring nature.
Here's a look at why some of our nominees love working in the tourism and hospitality industry:
Hospitality is more than greeting others with a smile. It's the summation of warmth and kindliness. It's bringing families and friends together and transforming everyday experiences into extraordinary ones — it's you.
