NEW YORK, NY (July 15, 2015) – The Greater New York Chapter of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) has awarded Marriott branded hotels in New York City with the 22nd Annual Frank W. Berkman Tourism Achievement Award and named the 2015 honorees for the Annual Hospitality Awards of Excellence.
The presentations took place on June 22, 2015, at the annual black-tie dinner/dance at the JW Marriott Essex House on Central Park South. Each of the evening’s awards were designed to recognize and honor individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to the tourism industry in New York City.
The Frank W. Berkman Tourism Achievement Award, presented by Robert Arnold, President of Vizergy, on behalf of the Past Presidents’ Council,was accepted by David S. Marriott, Chief Operations Officer – Americas Eastern Region for Marriott International.
Robert Arnold of Vizergy (Marquis Sponsor) presenting the Frank W. Berkman Tourism Achievement Award to David Marriott.
“With 124 hotels and counting, Marriott has made a significant impact on New York City. The Marriott Marquis was the cornerstone of the Times Square redevelopment which led to a renaissance of the area that continues to this day,” noted Laura Osborne, Chair of the Past President’s Council, adding: “With such a broad spectrum of quality brands, Marriott has something for every visitor to our great city.”
“The Greater New York Chapter of HSMAI was delighted to honor Marriott as the 2015 recipient of the Frank W. Berkman Tourism Achievement Award,” said Osborne.
In addition to the Frank W. Berkman Tourism Achievement Award, The President’s Award for Outstanding Service, presented by Consuela Hooblal, President of the HSMAI Greater New York Chapter and Regional Sales Manager of USA Today, was awarded to Lori O’Connell of Agency O’C.
For 2015, the HSMAI Greater New York Chapter named five individuals who were honored for their outstanding work and dedication to the hospitality industry and the sales and marketing profession, including:
•General Manager Of The Year: Robert Cardillo, General Manager, Wellington Hotel (presented by SiteMinder)
•Revenue Management Executive Of The Year: Calvin Anderson, CRME, Director of Revenue, Hilton New York City Midtown (presented by Booking.com)
•Sales Executive Of The Year: Andrea Lo Picolo, Area Director of Sales, Denihan (presented by JW Marriott Essex House)
•Marketing Executive Of The Year: D. C. Becker, Principal, Titan Group of New York (presented by Manhattan Center)
•Hospitality Professional Of The Year: Kristin Forkin-Collins, Sales & Marketing Manager, Hard Rock Café New York (presented by Wellington Hotel)
(Left photo): HSMAIGNY President, Consuela Hooblal, USA TODAY, presenting the President’s award to Lori O’Connell, Agency O’C. (Right photo): Robert Cardillo, General Manager, Wellington Hotel General Manager of the Year receiving his award from Bernhard Ballin of SiteMinder.
(Left photo): Richard Smith of Booking.com presenting the Revenue Management Executive of the Year to Calvin Anderson, CRME, Director of Revenue, Hilton New York City Midtown. (Right photo): Andrea Lo Picolo, Area Director of Sales, Denihan being presented her Sales Executive of the Year award by Joseph Cozza of Marriott. 
(Left photo): Jessica Berman, CMP of the Manhattan Center presenting the Marketing Executive of the Year award to D. C. BECKER, Principal, Titan Group of New York. (Right photo): Lucille Yokell, CHME, HSMAIGNY Awards Committee Director, Wellington Hotel, presenting the Hospitality Professional of the Year to Kristin Forkin-Collins, Sales & Marketing Manager, Hard Rock Café New York.
*All photos taken by Ralph DePas Photography*
Frank W. Berkman, CHME, was a former Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of HSMAI for 16 years. This award was created in 1994 by the Past President’s Council of the HSMAI Greater New York Chapter and was named after Berkman because of his dedication to building HSMAI into the highly-influential international hospitality industry organization it is today.
Previous recipients recognized for their outstanding contributions to the tourism industry in New York City include:
2014 The Empire State Building
2013 Rockefeller Center
2012 NYC & Company
2011 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center
2010 Times Square Alliance
2009 United States Tennis Association U.S. Open
2008 New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg
2007 Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes
2006 Jonathan Tisch, Chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels
2005 ING New York City Marathon
2004 The Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting
2003 Macy*s
2002 New York City FDNY, EMTs, NYPD & Port Authority Police
2001 Starwood Hotels
2000 The League of American Theatre & Producers
1999 The Today Show
1998 Donald Trump
1997 New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani
1996 Arthur Surin, Senior Vice President of Hilton Hotels Corporation
1995 Robert Preston Tisch, Chairman of the Board for Loews Hotels
1994 Charles Gillette, Chair of the New York Convention & Visitors Bureau
