Atlanta, GA (June 12, 2018): The International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) today announced that nominations are being accepted for the fourth annual Lori Raleigh Award for Emerging Excellence in Hospitality Consulting. Launched in 2015 in honor of Lori Raleigh, founder of the Travers Group and executive director of ISHC 2000-2013, the award honors young, successful industry professionals with leadership qualities and a perceived bright future in hospitality consulting.
“The Lori Raleigh Award for Emerging Excellence in Hospitality Consulting provides an opportunity to recognize young professionals, who demonstrate early career success and leadership qualities,” said Andrea Belfanti. “For any industry to succeed, there must be a constant influx of new perspectives, innovation and talent. ISHC looks to recognize the emerging class of hospitality consultants who are on the path to becoming future industry leaders and joining the exclusive ranks of ISHC membership.”
Candidates for The Lori Raleigh Award must be 35 years of age or younger at the time of the award presentation and meet the criteria for ISHC’s associate membership, including five years’ experience in a hospitality-related field with a minimum of three years of specific hospitality consulting experience. They also must be recognized by their company leaders or other industry constituents who are familiar with their work as an exceptional example of a future leader within the field. At the time of nomination, a candidate must be either a self-practitioner or working for a company that provides third-party consulting services to the hospitality industry and be actively involved or responsible for providing advisory services to clients of the firm (e.g., hospitality consulting firms, third-party hospitality asset managers, architects, designers, food and beverage consultants, hospitality lawyers, purchasing companies, etc.). Prior award winners are not eligible for nomination, while prior nominees who have not previously won remain eligible. Winner must be available to attend the annual conference for the award presentation in Miami Beach at the 1 Hotel South Beach, October 10 – 13, 2018.
Nominations are due by June 30, 2018. Winners will receive a one-year associate membership in ISHC to attend all meetings and networking functions, as well as complimentary registration and travel allowance to attend to the annual conference in 2018.
Last year’s winner was Amy Mierzwinski, director at Horwath HTL, a global leader in hotel, tourism and leisure consulting, where she is responsible for branding, sales and marketing and revenue management consultancy. Additionally, she oversees Horwath HTL’s client service team in New York and Florida. Prior to joining Horwath HTL, Mierzwinski held key positions with The Lacek Group, a specialty agency of Ogilvy & Mather based in Manhattan, where she managed the Starwood Preferred Guest account. Mierzwinski holds a Master of Science degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management from the Rosen School of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Florida State University, as well as a Certified Hospitality Digital Marketing professional designation from the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI). She currently serves on HSMAI’s Marketing Advisory Board.
“Receiving the Lori Raleigh Award and subsequent ISHC associate membership almost immediately had an extremely positive effect on my both my professional and personal lives,” said Mierzwinski. “I have met and learned from some of the most respected and influential hospitality professionals in the industry, and I’ve also made what I hope to be lifelong relationships with them and so many others that I’ve met through this honor. To be able to draw on the collective wisdom of ISHC members is invaluable, and something I have no doubt will assist me as I continue to take on each new challenge I meet.”
“It is important to ISHC to give back to the hospitality industry and foster new talent, and it is wonderful to recognize emerging consultants that already are making an impact,” said Andrea Belfanti, ISHC executive director. “Since the award winner is invited to be an associate ISHC member for a year and to attend our annual conference, we hope this will be a real career catalyst by providing unique educational and networking opportunities. ISHC believes in the power of collaboration and idea exchange and the immense impact that can have on an individual and the industry.”
For more information on The Lori Raleigh Award, please visit www.ishc.com/awards or go directly to the nomination form here.
