Posted on: Monday, February 5, 2007
No ka 'oi
Advertiser Staff
The Vera Wang Suite at the Halekulani hotel in Honolulu was voted the best hotel brand extension in a survey by Brand Week and the New York-based branding firm, TippingSpring. The Halekulani suite by wedding-dress designer Vera Wang is marketed to newlyweds and other couples at the Waikiki hotel.
Eddie Flores Jr., chief executive of L&L Drive-Inn and L&L Hawaiian Barbeque restaurant chains, will be honored March 8 as Sales Person of the Year by the Sales and Marketing Executives International, Honolulu chapter. Flores will be honored at the SMEI luncheon 11 a.m. March 8 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Tapa Ballroom. Registration: www.smehonolulu.com.
Four local businesspeople — Dwayne Steele (Legacy Laureate) of Grace Pacific Construction; Paul Loo of Morgan Stanley; Joe Nicolai of JN Automotive Group, and Harold Tanouye of Green Point Nurseries — have been named to the Junior Achievement Hawai'i Business Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will be part of the JA 50th anniversary dinner March 8 at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Information: Steven Grant, 545-1777.
Jean Asato, a guest relations supervisor at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa, was named the Outstanding Lodging Employee of the Year recently by the Hawai'i Hotel & Lodging Association.The award was one of 10 presented at the 17th annual statewide Na Po'e Pa'ahana (the hardworking people) luncheon honoring Hawai'i's top hospitality industry employees. Nominations were made by supervisors and coworkers for outstanding service to hotel guests, coworkers and community.
Other top Na Po'e Pa'ahana awardees were Bell/Valet Person of the Year: Allan Bala, Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa; Concierge of the Year: Joseph Scott Bacon, Princeville Resort; Engineering/Maintenance Person of the Year: Stan Arakaki, Royal Hawaiian Hotel; Food and Beverage Person of the Year: Peter Chan, Sheraton Waikiki Hotel; Front Office Person of the Year: Matt Sproat, Outrigger Reef on the Beach; Manager of the Year: first place, Reinhold Cremer Jr., The Westin Maui Resort & Spa; Housekeeper of the Year: Antonia Erice, Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort & Spa; Security Officer of the Year: Chaz Sato, Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa; Allied Member of the Year: Donald Takaki, chairman and chief executive officer of Island Movers, Inc.
Announcements of businessrelated awards and honors can be sent to: Business Awards, Business Section, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; faxed to 525-6763, or e-mailed to ayonan@honoluluadvertiser.com. For e-mailed releases, please make sure the information is included in the body of the message, not as an attachment.
