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Metro Detroit Hospitality Community Celebrates the Best in the Hospitality and Travel Industries at the 27th ROSE Awards

Media Contact: Chris Moyer Sr. Director of Communications 248-840-7332 [email protected]

DETROIT – Excellence in hospitality and service was honored by Visit Detroit at the 27th Recognition of Service Excellence (ROSE) Awards. Nearly 460,000 people in Southeast Michigan work in an industry connected to hospitality and travel, and 145 of those professionals were honored at the event. More than 600 industry colleagues attended the award ceremony that took place on August 31, 2023, at the Sound Board Theater at the MotorCity Casino Hotel. "Visitors are coming back to Southeast Michigan in the millions after the pandemic and spending billions of dollars to support our region's economy," said Visit Detroit President & CEO Claude Molinari. "The Talyor Swift and Beyonce concerts, the Movement Festival, our incredible culinary scene, and our welcoming hotels and attractions are not possible without the dedication of hospitality industry professionals that Visit Detroit is honored to recognize at ROSE Awards." The 145 ROSE Award nominations were provided by clients, guests, supervisors and the general public. One winner in each of the six categories was chosen. Additionally, one overall service champion, selected by a panel of expert hospitality professionals was also recognized. The 2023 category winners were: Volunteers — Hiran Alles, Volunteer, Wayne County Airport Authority Attractions and Casinos – Ny’Asia Valdez, BarHandler, The HandleBar Transportation – Jamara Lee, Customer Service Agent, Delta Air Lines Restaurants – John Boyce, Bartender, 5ive Steakhouse Behind the Scenes – Thomasina Bryant, Concierge, Huntington Place Hotels – Bianca Lupp, Front Desk Agent, Auburn Hills Marriott Pontiac The 2023 Overall Service Champion was Kitty Whitfield, Small Business Engagement Manager, Downtown Detroit Partnership. During the pandemic, Kitty was on the frontlines working with hospitality and small businesses to help them get the support and resources they needed to stay in business. She is a fierce advocate for Detroit, Detroiters, and the businesses in the community. McLaughlin Award for Hospitality The William F. McLaughlin Award for hospitality customer service was awarded to the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. As they mark their 20th anniversary this year, the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy remains steadfast in their mission to unite the 5.5-mile stretch from the Ambassador Bridge to Gabriel Richard Park, situated just east of the Belle Isle Bridge. Notably, the Riverfront has achieved the remarkable distinction of being crowned the nation's premier riverwalk for three consecutive years, as recognized by the USA Today's 10Best list. Fox 2’s Roop Raj served as master of ceremonies for the evening, which included entertainment by Rodney Page, Darian Taschner, Full View Productions, and Elevate Production Group. For more information about the ROSE Awards, go to theroseawards.com . *Photos available upon request.* ### Visit Detroit is a private, not-for-profit organization with a mission to drive regional tourism and economic impact by connecting the world to our diverse communities, rich history and spirt of innovation. Visit Detroit is the catalyst for bringing business travel, connections, trade shows, events, and leisure travelers to our region. More than 700 businesses are represented in the Visit Detroit membership. Visit Detroit was founded in 1896 as the world's first convention and visitors bureau, and more than 700 business are represented in the membership. Visitdetroit.com . Addendum I: Additional Information on Award Winners Overall Service Champion: Kitty Whitfield- Kitty is the Small Business Engagement Manager for the Downtown Detroit Partnership. Kitty works with restaurants, retail, and other small businesses in Detroit to provide them critical resources, support, and connections. Volunteers Category: Hiran Alles Hiran has been a volunteer at the airport for five years. He was nominated by ten different people for his helpful, compassionate, and kind service. Hiran is known for going above and beyond to help passengers as they navigate the Wayne County Airport. Attractions and Casinos Category: Ny’Asia Valdez- Ny’Asia is a Barhandler for the Handlebar Her unwavering commitment to excellence shines through in her daily endeavors. Ny'Asia's infectious love for her job, the people she serves, and her colleagues is palpable and reciprocated by everyone fortunate enough to work alongside her. Her boundless enthusiasm and charismatic knowledge about the city breathe life into her work, making her a true asset to the community. Transportation Category: Jamara Lee- Jamara Less is a customer service agency for Delta Airlines. Jamara is a standout professional whose unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional internal and external customer service sets her apart. Jamara is compassionate to everyone, especially people experiencing stressful travel situations. Restaurants Category: John Boyce- John is a bartender and bar-back 5ive Steakhouse at Saint John’s Resort in Plymouth, MI. Colleagues of John call him a master of his craft. He is always creating new cocktails that combine aesthetic appeal and great taste. John’s personality also helps create exceptional an exceptional guest experience. Behind the Scenes: Thomasina Bryant- Thomasina is a concierge at Huntington Place. Earlier this year, she was stationed at the information desk when she encountered a person in the midst of a mental health crisis. Thomasina's unwavering composure and her continued engagement with the individual, even in the presence of security and police personnel who arrived to offer additional assistance, highlight her remarkable ability to make a significant difference through seemingly small yet impactful actions. Hotels: Bianca Lupp- Bianca Lupp is a front desk agent at the Auburn Hills Marriot Pontiac. Bianca consistently welcomes everyone with a cheerful smile as they step through the hotel's doors. She extends the same level of respect and kindness to both her colleagues and the guests she serves. Bianca's willingness to consistently go the extra mile for both her team and the guests exemplifies her dedication and commitment to fostering a warm and inviting atmosphere. Addendum 2: Prizes for Overall Service Champion and Category Winners Overall Service Champion prizes $1,500 Cash Two Round Trip Tickets for Travel within US/Canada – Mexico/Caribbean provided by Delta Air Lines Four Charity Preview Tickets to the North American International Auto Show Four Suite Tickets for a Show at the Fox Theatre during the 2023-2024 Season plus Lunch or Dinner with Nonalcoholic Beverages on the Loge Level Prior to the Show Detroit Tigers Game Tickets (4) Crystal Award Two Dozen Red Roses One Bottle of Champagne Category Winners

$500 Visa Gift Card One Complimentary Roundtrip Tickets within US48/Canada provided by Delta Air Lines Detroit Tigers Game Tickets (2) Crystal Award One Dozen Red Roses One Bottle of Champagne

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Visit Detroit honors Metro Detroit hospitality industry

By Jessica Stevenson, Kyana Coleman

September 12, 2022 / 12:15 PM EDT / CBS Detroit

(CBS DETROIT) - After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Visit Detroit rolled out the red carpet to celebrate their 26th annual Recognition of Service Excellence, or ROSE Awards.

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Each year, nearly 19 million people visit Detroit generating $6.6 billion for the tri-county economy.

The ceremony honors employees throughout metro Detroit in the hospitality and tourism industry through peer nominations.

"Sometimes folks get taken for granted honestly, you know, you kind of just expect the service to happen," said Samantha Scott, marketing manager for Visit Detroit. "But all the background that goes into making that experience special is a lot, so it kind of pulls back the curtain and say no, you come to the front and be honored because this couldn't happen without you."

Some of the prizes awarded include suite tickets to a show at the Fox, Tigers game tickets, and monetary prizes.

A list of nominees can be found here . 

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The Award Winning Huntington Place Shines in 2023

2023 proved to be the year of re-emergence for Huntington Place and the city of Detroit was noted in several “best of” hospitality categories. The Wall Street Journal ranked the Detroit venue as 19 th best in the country, ahead the New York Javits Center, the Los Angeles Convention Center and San Francisco’s Moscone Center among others. Detroit was again rated for the best Riverwalk by USA Today (the Riverwalk stretches in front of Huntington Place and runs for 5.5 miles with several parks and lots of civic activity.) Detroit was named one of the Top 10 Places to Travel in 2023 by TIME’s Worlds Greatest Places list for travel in its list of the world’s greatest places. And when BonusFinder.com compared NFL venues using nine different categories, Detroit was named best city for NFL visitors.

Huntington Place itself received numerous industry awards recognizing success in service, sustainability and overall excellence. The venue was honored with five major industry awards in one year topping out with nine of the team being nominated for the highly acclaimed hospitality award, the Rose Award. These 2023 awards include the Rose Award Behind the Scenes Service, the Distinctive Achievement Award (Association Conventions & Facilities), the Prime Site Award (Facilities & Destinations), the Centers of Excellence Award (Exhibitor Magazine) and LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Buildings Council (USGBC.)

“Huntington Place, which is managed by ASM Global, is always so honored to be recognized by our community, our industry and through national awards. Being highlighted is a motivator for our team who work exceptionally hard to make a positive impact,” said Karen Totaro, general manager Huntington Place, ASM Global. “We strive to make Detroit proud of all that Huntington Place is and does. As a business, Huntington Place/ASM Global needs to stay top of mind for our clients and , awards/recognitions give us just the right type of exposure for clients to see us as the industry leader we are.”

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Visit Detroit Rose Awards

For over two decades, the annual Visit Detroit ROSE Awards have been dedicated to honoring the true power and dedication of individuals in metro Detroit’s hospitality industry. Detroit hospitality workers are what makes the region a great place to work, stay and play — and the Detroit community simply wouldn’t succeed without them. Candidates for the Rose Awards are nominated by both the general public and/or a supervisor or a human resources director/manager. After all votes are cast, a panel of hospitality-industry judges will choose a winner in each of the six categories.

Nine employees from the Huntington Place team were nominated for a highly acclaimed hospitality Rose Award in 2023. No entity had a larger number of recognized hospitality professionals nominated, with 3 finalists and 1 significant win in the “Behind the Scenes” category. 

The 2023 Behind the Scenes Rose Award went to Information Desk Officer, Thomasina Bryant. As an essential member of the Huntington Place Public Safety department, Thomasina is often the first person to greet and direct visitors in her station at the information desk on the venue concourse. She is also the person that visitors go to when they have a problem and she excels at quickly gathering the resources needed to assist. Her confident and caring demeanor made her the logical choice for the best “behind the scenes” person in the city this year. That says a lot!

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Prime Site Award (Facilities and Destinations Magazine)

For the 12th year in a row, Facilities & Destinations Magazine has recognized Huntington Place with its Prime Site Award , as a venue that is an ideal environment for stakeholders to engage in dialogue, brainstorming, learning and networking. Winning the award signals client satisfaction on many levels and recognizes that the center is a standout in a competitive meetings marketplace.

Centers of Excellence Award (Exhibitor Magazine)

Exhibitor Magazine readers evaluated their favorite convention centers using an objective algorithm weighted to reflect how they value a variety of variables. The myriad criteria considered were categorized into five primary areas:

  • Facility & Functionality
  • Location & Accommodations
  • Service & Execution
  • Expansions & Upgrades
  • Awards & Industry Participation

Huntington Place has received the distinguished Centers of Excellence Award for five years in a row. The award is a particular honor because essentially it comes from the venue's trade show customers. This year, Huntington Place also was recognized for Best Customer Service & On-Site Support,

Distinctive Achievement Award (Association Conventions & Facilities)

Association Conventions & Facilities magazine recognizes those convention centers and visitors bureaus that have demonstrated their overall commitment to excellence annually with their Distinctive Achievement Awards . The 20,500+ subscribers are offered the opportunity to vote. Ballots are sent to subscribers via email. Eligible ballots are limited to those submitted by meeting planner subscribers; and only one ballot per subscriber is accepted. Judging criteria includes: superior services and support; top-notch assistance with promotion and site-inspections; and high level of assistance to identify and liaison with suppliers, vendors, facilities, venues and local government.

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Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)

After a rigorous application process, Huntington Place again achieved LEED Gold status in 2023 by recertifying under the LEED v4.1 O+M rating system, the most robust, flexible and transparent rating system to date. The convention center maintains its status as the largest LEED certified venue in Michigan.

Huntington Place was recognized by LEED for several best practices resulting in the 2023 certification . The project scored very high in Human Experience which includes an Indoor Air Quality Evaluation – and demonstrates the building has excellent ventilation and air quality. The venue’s sustainability marketing efforts were also recognized with specific credit to the “Sustainability Lives Here” campaign designed by Detroit-based Lovio George Communications.

Huntington Place was originally LEED Gold certified in 2019. The center also received the international 2020 Leadership Award from the USGBC in recognition of leadership in driving the adoption of LEED across business portfolios, helping to advance Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance, resilience planning and innovative waste management solutions. Currently, Huntington Place is the only convention center in the world to receive the award.  Leadership Award  recipients are a model for how LEED and other sustainability practices can be used to improve communities, support business, and contribute to a better future for all. 

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  • The ROSE Award
  • McLaughlin Award

2023 ROSE AWARDS AUGUST 31

Event Registration is open AUGUST 01-AUGUST 24

Visit Detroit has always believed in the importance of recognizing exceptional service, and that’s why it established the Recognition of Service Excellence (ROSE) Award.

Visit Detroit invites the public and the hospitality industry to play a vital role in the ROSE Awards selection process. There are three major components to this process: the nomination component, the voting component, and the judging and selection process.

THE NOMINATION PROCESS | MAY 1-JUNE 30; EXTENDED THRU JULY 6

A candidate can be nominated by both the general public and/or a supervisor or a human resources director/manager. Nominees must be employed by businesses and organizations that are members of Visit Detroit. Only one nomination is required for a candidate to become part of the voting process.

All nominations must consist of a 100-word description highlighting why your nominee is an ideal candidate for a ROSE Award. Please refer to the nomination rules below to make sure your candidate is eligible.

All nominations are reviewed and submitted for approval and acceptance by the nominees’ respective supervisors or human resources director/managers. Once approved, nominees move on to the voting process.

NOMINATION RULES

  • Nominees must be employed by businesses and organizations that are members of Visit Detroit. For verification, please call Harriet Carter, VP, Customer/Partner Services at (313) 969-1847.
  • Nominees must work in a non-supervisory capacity with no hiring or firing privileges.
  • Nominees may not own the business or organization for which they are being nominated.
  • Nominees cannot be category winners or overall service champions from previous year’s ROSE Award.
  • Nominees must be nominated from one of the following six categories: Attractions and Casinos, Behind the Scenes, Hotels, Restaurants, Transportation or Volunteers.
  • Group nominations are not permissible. Only individual nominations will be accepted.
  • Each member company/organization will be allowed to submit up to six individual nominations.

THE VOTING PROCESS | JULY 18-19

Once a nominee has been approved for consideration, his or her name will appear on the official ROSE Awards website. The number of votes is taken into account when the judging and selection process takes place, although, as described below, this isn’t the only consideration. Only one vote per category is allowed per person.

THE JUDGING & SELECTION PROCESS | AUGUST

After all votes are cast, a panel of hospitality-industry judges will choose a winner in each of the six categories. The ROSE Awards judging criteria includes commitment to excellent customer service, longevity, endorsement of managers and co-workers, community service activities, communication skills, ability to handle problems effectively, attitude and workplace knowledge, and lasting impressions. The panel of judges will base the decision of who wins the ROSE Award based on the criteria listed above and the number of votes a nominee receives. After the judging is finished, an overall service-champion (grand-prize winner) will be selected from the pool of nominations.

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Nominations for The ROSE Awards are open!

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If your experience visiting the Motown Museum was exceptional, please consider nominating one of our staff members for the Detroit Recognition of Service Excellence Awards (ROSE) Awards!

For over two decades, the annual Visit Detroit ROSE Awards have been dedicated to honoring the true power and dedication of individuals in metro Detroit’s hospitality industry. They’re what makes Detroit a great place to work, stay and play!

It takes a lot of outstanding people to make Detroit shine and the ROSE Awards were created to honor the hard-working employees and volunteers at restaurants, hotels, and attractions. No matter what they do, awardees represent the best that Detroit has to offer.

Simply enter the first and last name of your favorite Motown employee and select “Attraction and Casinos” in the category field!

Cast A Nomination

Entries are being accepted through June 30, 2023, and the nomination form can be found at https://theroseawards.com/rose-award/nominate-rose-award

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visit detroit rose awards

Rose Awards Recognize Industry Professionals

visit detroit rose awards

Visit Detroit honors 145 professionals during 2023 ceremonies

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Kitty Whitfield assumed she hadn’t won when her name wasn’t called during the category in which she’d been nominated at the 27th ROSE Awards (Recognition of Service Excellence).

Then her sisters began shouting after a video started rolling in conjunction with announcing she had received the 2023 Overall Service Champion award during the ROSE Awards ceremonies hosted by Visit Detroit .

According to Visit Detroit, some 460,000 people in southeast Michigan work in jobs connected to the hospitality and travel industries, with 145 recognized at the event attended by 600 held Aug. 31 at the MotorCity Casino Hotel’s Sound Board Theater. The 145 candidates for the ROSE Awards were nominated by clients, guests, supervisors, and the public at large. One winner in each of six categories was selected by a panel of industry professionals from Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne counties and the city of Detroit. Besides the special award for Whitfield, the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy received the ROSE Awards’ William F. McLaughlin Award for hospitality customer service.

A press release about the ROSE Awards noted that Whitfield, small business engagement manager with the Downtown Detroit Partnership , was honored because she worked hard during the pandemic to support hospitality and small businesses with resources they needed to stay in operation. She says Downtown Detroit Partnership CEO Eric Larson (“who loves Detroit almost as much as I do”) had urged her to reach out.

visit detroit rose awards

“It was unprecedented,” Whitfield says. “Nobody knew what to do. I got on the phone and started calling around to find out … what was happening.”

Whitfield says she spread the word about grants that were available to help businesses keep operating. “I didn’t want to tell anybody about loans because my people were already hurting,” she says. “They wanted a leg up.”

At the time, Whitfield had only recently begun her job, having previously been executive assistant to Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan for more than seven years. In accepting her ROSE Award, she said it was wonderful to be able to help and work with small businesses in that way.

The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy was praised for being steadfast in its mission to unite the 5.5-mile riverfront trail from the Ambassador Bridge to Gabriel Richard Park just east of the Belle Isle Bridge. It’s made USA Today’s 10Best list as the top riverwalk in America for three years.

The 2023 ROSE Awards category winners included:

Hiran Alles, Wayne County Airport Authority —Volunteer

Ny’Asia Valdez, barhandler, The HandleBar —Attractions and Casinos

Jamara Lee, Delta Air Lines customer service agent—Transportation

John Boyce, bartender, Five Steakhouse —Restaurants

Thomasina Bryant, concierge, Huntington Place —Behind the Scenes

Bianca Lupp, front desk agent, Auburn Hills Marriott Pontiac —Hotels

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2023 honorees.

Quick Links to Winner Stories:

ROSE Award Winners

  • Barry Wehr Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium
  • Olivia Mannon Ironworks Hotel

Scott Person Downtown Indy, Inc.

  • Antonia Zunarelli Indiana Roof Ballroom
  • Debbie Keith Charlie Browns Pancake and Steak House

James Leonard Sodexo Live!

  • Pam Masters Hilton Garden Inn Indianapolis Airport/Schahet
  • Stephen “Woody” Woods Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Jonathan Jackson IndyGo

ROSE Award Nominees

Ronald Alexander, Sr. Conrad Indianapolis

Kaitlyn Birdwell Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino

Jeff Bobbitt Indianapolis Marriott East

Timothy Bommarito Encore

Barbara Brazzell Courtyard by Marriott Indianapolis South

Robert Brewer Hilton Indianapolis Hotel & Suites

Maurice D. “Mo” Burns Prime 47 Carmel

Sandra Cabrera Ironworks Hotel Indy

Christine Cade Tru By Hilton Indianapolis Downtown

Max Campbell St. Elmo Steak House

Maria “Lulu” Canico Harry & Izzy’s Circle Centre

Taffie Cassell Home2 Suites by Hilton Indianapolis Downtown

Sara Castillo Home2 Suites by Hilton Fishers Northeast

Allen Celestine Indianapolis Marriott Downtown

Kishor Chaudhari Crowne Plaza Downtown Union Station

Jose Cruz Holiday Inn Indianapolis Carmel

Maria D’Ruiz Homewood Suites by Hilton Indianapolis-Airport

Jay Davis The HandleBar Indy

Mike Davis Eiteljorg Museum

Michael Denton Embassy Suites by Hilton Indianapolis Airport

Sonia Espinoza Indianapolis International Airport

Ann Everett Daniel’s Vineyard & Winery

Natalie Fields Conrad Indianapolis

Jay Fisher Tastings – A Wine Experience

William Franklin Indianapolis Airport Authority

Mike Furnish Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum

Mayra Garcia Home2 Suites by Hilton Indianapolis Airport

Kaitlin Hagenow Marriott IndyPlace

Anneliese Hahn Hotel Carmichael

Renee Hay The Eagle’s Nest

Cheretta Henderson Embassy Suites by Hilton Indianapolis Downtown

Jaime Hernandez Fairfield by Marriott Indianapolis Fishers

Efren Herrera Le Méridien Indianapolis

Tyler Hoover Markey’s

Olivia Hubbard The Best Chocolate in Town

Richard Jackson Holiday Inn Indianapolis Carmel

Ali Jawad Marriott Indianapolis North

Jacqueline Johnson Renaissance Indianapolis North

LJ Johnson Holiday Inn Indianapolis Airport

Alexandra Jones Embassy Suites by Hilton Indianapolis Airport

Laurie Kazmucha HC Tavern + Kitchen

Debbie Keith Charlie Browns Pancake & Steak House

Alex Kissick Harry & Izzy’s River’s Edge

Bryan Kuhn Accent Indy, A DMC Network Company

Vilma Leiva Holiday Inn Express Indianapolis Airport

Sydnee Lekarczyk Livery

Justin Lewis Livery Noblesville

Evelyn Lig Heart of the House Hospitality

Kiah Linstrum Home2 Suites by Hilton Indianapolis Downtown

Dominaye Lockett 1933 Lounge Fishers

Courtney Long Bullseye Event Group

Stacy Long Bottleworks Hotel

Maria Lopez Homewood Suites by Hilton Downtown

Alberto Lugo LGC Hospitality

Patrick MacDonald Lou Malnati’s

Norma Malvaiz Candlewood Suites Downtown Medical District

Olivia Mannon Ironworks Hotel Indy

Chase Marshall JW Marriott Indianapolis

Pam Masters Hilton Garden Inn Indianapolis Airport

Andrew Mears Omni Severin

Teriz Michael Marriott Indianapolis North

Faouzi Mihoubi Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Rick Miller Royal Transportation

Regina Moore Omni Severin

Sydney Morrow Fairfield Inn & Suites Indianapolis Downtown

Diana Mulamba Newfields - A Place for Nature & the Arts

Kim Pennycuff Lucas Oil Stadium

Ramon Perez IndyGo

Brandon Perryz Pacers Sports & Entertainment

Matthew Phillips A Classic Party Rental

Lois Priestly Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Airport

Leela Rao Newfields - A Place for Nature & the Arts

Christin Rollett 500 Festival

Danny Russel Indiana Historical Society

Amy Sanford Home2 Suites by Hilton Downtown

Cindy Schassberger Hotel Carmichael

Emily Schnell Embassy Suites by Hilton Downtown

Mark Spangler The Free Enterprise System

Ronald Swanson Hampton Inn Indianapolis Northwest – Park 100

Ashlynn Thomas Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino

Coy Tipton Peterson’s Restaurant

Sydney Tipton Courtyard & SpringHill Suites Indy Downtown

Jill Towers Citizens Energy Group

Marcus Watts The HandleBar Indy

Sheri Watts Citizens Energy Group

Barry Wehr Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oil Stadium

Sandy Wells Le Méridien Indianapolis

Deanna Whitlow Fairfield by Marriott Indianapolis Carmel

Madison Winings Bottleworks Hotel

Stephen “Woody” Woods Indianapolis Motor Speedway

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WHAT IT REALLY MEANS

“When I was chosen as one of the recipients, my years in the hospitality field had so much more meaning. Can you imagine how great it feels to meet people who still remember me as a winner? It is a truly humbling experience.”

Patty Camerone Ruth's Chris Steak House

Barry Wehr  — Teamster Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oil Stadium Barry Wehr has been a full-time set-up Teamster at the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium for twenty-five years. In his tenure, he has seamlessly set up more than 12,500 events inside the Indiana Convention Center. He works behind the scenes to set up exhibit booths, lay carpet, and build bleachers. A good set-up team leader is indicated by how little they are noticed by the client. Barry works two full-time jobs, and after coming straight from his other job, he checks in early with the Convention Center’s night supervisor to see where he needs to focus his immediate attention. He then preps for the day’s big event, with setup completion ready to go before the client steps foot in the door. < back to top >

Olivia Mannon  — Guest Services Supervisor Ironworks Hotel It’s estimated that across the four years Olivia has worked for this northside hotel, she’s penned nearly one thousand personalized welcome notes to visitors attempting to make an ordinary visit to Indy extraordinary. She’s known for going above and beyond in creating personalized pet amenities to welcome Indy’s four legged visitors. After making the Dean’s List at Ivy Tech, Olivia went on to explore other tourism hot spots like Hawaii and Miami, Florida, working for a five-star resort. While finding her stride in tourism and solidifying her passion in serving others, she always kept coming back to her hometown and hub for hospitality, Indianapolis. < back to top >

Scott Person  — Downtown Safety Ambassador Downtown Indy, Inc. For the past seven years, Scott has walked Indy’s downtown streets to clean, beautify and welcome visitors. He’s become a familiar smiling face to many. On multiple occasions, Scott has personally escorted visitors to their destinations, whether they were searching for their parking garage or the nearest grocery store. Scott has taken the time to get to know everyone he sees downtown– the bellmen, the valet, the bankers, and conventioneers. He’s also spent time getting to know our downtown unhoused neighbors and hearing their stories. For instance, after earning the trust of one gentleman, Scott ensured he was referred to the Homelessness Initiatives Program, providing him safety and needed care. < back to top >

Antonia Zunarelli  — Sales Manager and Owner Indiana Roof Ballroom When Antonia and her family took over operations at Indiana Roof Ballroom in 2002, the hospitality industry was introduced to the most quintessential industry leader – yet one of the most unassuming professionals. From events large and small, the Indiana Roof Ballroom has hosted presidents to pop stars and the most lavish of weddings. Behind it all is Antonia Zunarelli, never sitting still so that no detail is ever missed. Yet she never seeks attention nor praise. Based on the team at the Roof Ballroom’s tenure, it is evident that the staff all love her. She’s dedicated her weeknights and weekends to this industry for twenty-one years. Antonia has served nearly four thousand and three hundred events here, fourteen of those being the Annual ROSE Awards. < back to top >

Debbie Keith  — Server Charlie Browns Pancake and Steak House Charlie Browns Pancake and Steak House has had a consistent smiling face for more than three decades. Her trademark is her two-foot spoon she carries around ready to bop any customer who acts out. For the many Indy-based regulars or the visitors who have become regulars, they all know that if you fall victim to the spoon, it’s because Debbie likes you. This Speedway hot spot is no stranger to the crowds during race month. On race weekend, Debbie will show up to work before the sun comes up to get ready ahead of opening. She’ll walk past an already long line of visitors waiting at the door whether they’ve been standing in queue for awhile or they brought their camping chair to hold their spot. For thirty years, she’s compiled a roster of regulars coming from all corners of the globe, bellying up to the booth and anxiously awaiting that smile, that hug, and maybe even a tap of the silver spoon. < back to top >

James Leonard  — Suite Host Sodexo Live! Barnes & Thornberg has been the benefactor of having James serve as their suite host since the stadium’s opening. He’s now introduced his larger-than-life personality and compassionate character to over 5,000 suite guests. The firm will fly in visitors from around the country and host them in their suite, serving as a recruitment tool to acquire new clients. While their law credentials go a long way, it’s also James’ warm welcome, over-the-top service and genuine care that can seal the deal. He is most often the perception these visitors have about Indy as a destination. < back to top >

Pam Masters  — Server Hilton Garden Inn Indianapolis Airport/Schahet Hotels While Pam’s responsibilities are specific to serving visitors at Hilton Garden Inn, you’ll often find her with her sleeves rolled up helping polish silverware in the banquets department or cleaning the public restrooms. When a restaurant visitor asked for a specific food item one morning, she took it upon herself to go and buy it with her own money. The next morning, the kitchen was re-stocked and ready for the hotel guest to come down for breakfast. Pam is notorious for showing up to the hotel on her off days, just to lend a hand. She has quickly become the heart and soul of the hotel and the trendsetter for their guests’ expectations. < back to top >

Stephen "Woody" Woods  — Supervisor of Facilities Indianapolis Motor Speedway For the past twenty-seven years Woody has been examining the most iconic racetrack in the world with a fine tooth comb. Every fence row, bleacher seat, tire barrier, or inch of the track’s surface is presented in world-class form so that the millions of visitors and 33-daring drivers can enjoy a safe and seamless experience. As an example of his loyalty and dedication to the visitor experience, Woody couldn’t sleep after watching heavy rain roll through Indy the day before the big race. So, what does he do? At 2 a.m. he gets behind the wheel of the sweeper to begin removing the excess water from the track’s surface. And he did this at the request of no one. He’ll do whatever it takes to make the track one of the best places in the world to host events and give people from not just the US, but from around the globe, a positive experience in Indianapolis. < back to top >

Jonathon Jackson  — Coach Operator IndyGo Jonathon connects our community and visitors to cultural and economic opportunities through safe, reliable, and courteous transportation services at IndyGo. He also has personal mission to help others achieve a healthy lifestyle. He even started a company called “I’m Why, and hosted his first 5K race called “Run for Ya Life” as an opportunity to directly impact others’ lives through accountability and encouragement. As an added testament to his dedication to the community, he donated the proceeds to the Indianapolis Art Center and the Christamore Youth Program. His care for others continues to shine as he participates in the “Give the Kids the World Village Marathon” each year, raising funds that allows families with children suffering from a critical illness to enjoy a weeklong, cost-free vacation. Jonathon has been seen handing out food and essentials to Indy’s unhoused population. Out of the goodness of his own heart, out of his own pocket, and, out of his pure will to make others feel seen and worthy. He is the physical definition of hope and inspiration. After losing nearly 100 pounds himself, he has decided to become a source of motivation for others. That strive for excellence has become a part of his approach to those who step on his bus, those he passes by on the city streets, and those who work alongside him – his work family. < back to top >

Extra

Celebrity News March 05, 2024

Kristen stewart says ‘gayest thing ever’ comment was ‘silly’ (exclusive).

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Kristen Stewart, Katy O’Brian, and director Rose Glass are dishing on their new film “Love Lies Bleeding.”

“Extra’s” Melvin Robert spoke with the trio about their new crime romance that follows a gym manager and a body builder whose love leads to violence.

Kristen also talked about her recent comments that she wanted her Rolling Stone cover to be the “gayest thing ever,” and how she has stayed true to herself as a “fluid” person.

She said, "That was a silly thing to say, it was in passing.”

As for why it was the right time to do the cover, Kristen said, “Cause… why not? Seems like it's time... I kind of wanted to make a picture that I wanted to have on my bedroom ceiling growing up that I didn't have.”

Melvin praised Stewart on the importance of living her life authentically and what it means for others in the LGBTQ community.

Kristen recently pointed out that her femininity saved her life, but what did she mean? She explained, “Well I was saying that I knew how to sort of use my feminine wilds to get like jobs… I’m created by the world that we live in, which is a patriarchal world and so I know how to appeal and it never felt like a lie because I am a pretty fluid person.”

Kristen continued, “I think some people are, kind of like more distinctly, you know, preferentially succinct whereas I'm a little more all over the place and I think that that helped... and what I was saying is if I looked more butch or if I looked you know like somebody who wouldn't want to, maybe have sex with a man, I maybe wouldn't have like done as well in my career... that's a bummer and hopefully not the case forever.”

On what inspired Rose to do the lesbian love story, she answered, “I think I just thought it would be really fun and it was the kind of film that I wanted to watch myself.”

Kristen loved her role, saying, “I was like gleefully skipping through this experience… I had a really very, very good time playing Lou.”

Stewart elaborated, “She like is a sort of insecure cool guy… who also just wants to be like loved and hugged… there's just something kind of like a little slap happy, nothing matters, irreverent and then you're like, ‘Watch this guy fall in love really hard’… Lou is somebody who, you kind of love, and maybe really hate in turns.”

Katy had fun with her role too, saying, “I had a blast… I was just thinking, talking, about like just little set memories and just kind of remembering… it was just those fun little moments that were found."

When Kristen was asked how she prepped for some extreme scenes, she answered, “I basically just had to like start smoking again, which was the worst part of making the movie… I was just like present and ready to go there wherever she wanted me to go.”

Love Lies Bleeding” is out March 8.

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IMAGES

  1. Winners of 20th Annual Detroit ROSE Awards Announced

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  2. 2017 ROSE Award Honorees

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  3. Experience the 2018 ROSE Awards

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  4. 2022

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  5. 2010 ROSE Awards Honorees

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  6. 2017 ROSE Award Honorees

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COMMENTS

  1. Home

    Rose Awards. More than 20 years ago, Visit Detroit began a celebration of our hospitality industry's workforce with the Recognition of Service Excellence (ROSE) Award. This award recognizes the individuals whose efforts make our region a great place to work, stay and play. ... Visit Detroit 211 W. Fort Street, Suite 1000 Detroit, MI 48226 313 ...

  2. Winners Announced at the 26th ROSE Awards

    DETROIT - Visit Detroit honored 67 members of the metro Detroit hospitality community for their excellent customer service at the 26th Recognition of Service Excellence (ROSE) Awards. The award ceremony celebration took place on Sept. 8, 2022, at the Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center. More than 440,000 professionals in Southeast Michigan work in the hospitality industry, and for more ...

  3. Metro Detroit Hospitality Community Celebrates the Best in the

    DETROIT - Excellence in hospitality and service was honored by Visit Detroit at the 27th Recognition of Service Excellence (ROSE) Awards. Nearly 460,000 people in Southeast Michigan work in an industry connected to hospitality and travel, and 145 of those professionals were honored at the event.

  4. 2022

    After a two year hiatus, the ROSE Awards returns. The 26th anniversary of the ROSE Awards was a night to remember and we are grateful to have so many amazing ambassadors representing our region. Metro Detroit continues to thrive because of our hard working industry partners who are creating positive experiences causing visitors to come …more

  5. Voting

    Visit Detroit 211 W. Fort Street, Suite 1000 Detroit, MI 48226 313-202-1800

  6. Visit Detroit 26th Annual Rose Awards

    Visit Detroit honored 67 members of the metro Detroit hospitality community for their excellent customer service with a glamorous night of reconnection and r...

  7. 2022 ROSE Award Honorees

    After a two year hiatus, the ROSE Awards returns. The 26th anniversary of the ROSE Awards was a night to remember and we are grateful to have so many amazing ambassadors representing our region. Metro Detroit continues to thrive because of our hard working industry partners who are creating positive experiences causing visitors to come back ...

  8. The ROSE Awards

    Every spring, Visit Indy rolls out the red carpet at the annual ROSE Awards event honoring non-managerial hospitality employees or volunteers who provide excellent customer service. We invited our partners to nominate up to two employees or volunteers who exemplify service excellence. Nominations for the 33rd Annual ROSE Awards are now closed.

  9. Home

    ROSE AWARDS. More than 20 years ago, Visit Detroit began a celebration of our hospitality industry's workforce with the Recognition of Service Excellence (ROSE) Award. This award recognizes the individuals whose efforts make our region a great place to work, stay and play. ... This award is given to a Visit Detroit member/partner for ...

  10. 2023 Visit Detroit Rose Awards

    Visit Detroit honored 145 members of the metro Detroit hospitality community for their excellent customer service with a glamorous night of reconnection and recognition. More than 460,000 professionals in Southeast Michigan work in the hospitality industry, and for more than a quarter century, the Rose Awards have highlighted their vital role ...

  11. The ROSE Award

    the rose award For over two decades, the annual Visit Detroit ROSE Awards have been dedicated to honoring the true power and dedication of individuals in metro Detroit's hospitality industry. They're what makes our region a great place to work, stay and play — and our community simply wouldn't succeed without them.

  12. PDF Winners Announced at the 27th ROSE Awards Metro Detroit Hospitality

    Hospitality and Travel Industries at the 27 th ROSE Awards . DETROIT - Excellence in hospitality and service was honored by Visit Detroit at the 27th . Recognition of Service Excellence (ROSE) Awards. Nearly 460,000 people in Southeast ... Visit Detroit is a private, not-for-profit organization with a mission to drive regional

  13. Prizes

    A celebration of Detroit's hospitality industry's workforce with the Recognition of Service Excellence (ROSE) Award.

  14. Awards Banquet

    A celebration of Detroit's hospitality industry's workforce with the Recognition of Service Excellence (ROSE) Award.

  15. Visit Detroit honors Metro Detroit hospitality industry

    (CBS DETROIT) - After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Visit Detroit rolled out the red carpet to celebrate their 26th annual Recognition of Service Excellence, or ROSE Awards.

  16. The Award Winning Huntington Place Shines in 2023

    Visit Detroit Rose Awards . For over two decades, the annual Visit Detroit ROSE Awards have been dedicated to honoring the true power and dedication of individuals in metro Detroit's hospitality industry. Detroit hospitality workers are what makes the region a great place to work, stay and play — and the Detroit community simply wouldn't ...

  17. Rules

    Visit Detroit has always believed in the importance of recognizing exceptional service, and that's why it established the Recognition of Service Excellence (ROSE) Award. Visit Detroit invites the public and the hospitality industry to play a vital role in the ROSE Awards selection process.

  18. Nominations for The ROSE Awards

    May 2023. If your experience visiting the Motown Museum was exceptional, please consider nominating one of our staff members for the Detroit Recognition of Service Excellence Awards (ROSE) Awards! For over two decades, the annual Visit Detroit ROSE Awards have been dedicated to honoring the true power and dedication of individuals in metro ...

  19. Rose Awards Recognize Industry Professionals

    ROSE Award honorees include Hiran Alles, Thomasina Bryant, Kitty Whitfield, Claude Molinari, Jamara Lee, John Boyce, Ny'Asia Valdez, and Bianca Lupp. || Courtesy of Visit Detroit Kitty Whitfield assumed she hadn't won when her name wasn't called during the category in which she'd been nominated at the 27th ROSE Awards (Recognition of ...

  20. 2023 Honorees

    Antonia has served nearly four thousand and three hundred events here, fourteen of those being the Annual ROSE Awards. ... THE ROSE AWARDS IS AN ANNUAL PROGRAM OF VISIT INDY. 200 South Capitol Avenue, Suite 300, Indianapolis, IN 46225-1063 800.323.INDY (4639) | 317.262.3000

  21. Kristen Stewart on 'Silly' Rolling Stone 'Gayest Thing Ever ...

    Kristen Stewart, Katy O'Brian, and director Rose Glass are dishing on their new film "Love Lies Bleeding." "Extra's" Melvin Robert spoke with the trio about their new crime romance ...