~1 Hotels Wins Three Awards; Lifetime Achievement Award presented to

Benjamin Prelvukaj of Benjamin Restaurant Group~

 More than 300 members of the hospitality industry attended the 20th Annual Hotel Excellence Awards at 583 Park Avenue Monday night. Hosted by WhereTraveler, IN New York and The New York City Association of Hotel Concierges (NYCAHC), the awards honor the innovative leaders who have revolutionized the New York City hospitality industry. The Hotel Excellence Awards are comprised of the Silver Plume Awards, honoring exemplary customer service in the Hotel Concierge and General Manager community selected by industry peers; and the Hotel Experience Awards, recognizing hotels in eight categories selected by the readers of WhereTraveler New York and IN New York magazines. Rob Nelson of Eyewitness News presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Benjamin Prelvukaj of Benjamin Restaurant Group.

“All of us at Morris Media Network, WhereTraveler and IN New York are proud to carry this tradition of recognizing deserving professionals into its 20th year,” said Haines Wilkerson, Chief Creative Officer, Morris Media Network. “We congratulate the winners tonight and are grateful to have gathered the best of the best in hospitality to celebrate those who are revolutionizing the industry.”

Richard Gellman, VP Advertising & Marketing,Tourneau;Donald Post, James G Elliot;Benjamin Prelvukaj, Owner, Benjamin Restaurant Group;Presley Ryan, Performer Beetlejuice;Lauren Serrano,Tourism Program Planner, Bloomingdales;Rob Nelson, Eyewitness News Anchor; Natalie Charle Ellis, Performer Beetlejuiceand Sean Montgomery, Performer,Beetlejuiceatthe20thAnnual Hotel Excellence Awardsat 583Park Avenueon August19, 2019.© Alan Barnett Photograph

The awards raised over $11,000 in a raffle to benefit the Les Clefs d’Or Foundation and the NYCAHC Charitable Fund, which donates gifts to local New York City-based charities such as Habitat for Humanity, City Harvest and Safe Horizon. Packages raffled off included clothing and a private appointment with the designer at Joe Bananas; two prime tickets, backstage tour of Carnegie Hall and two gala passes from Distinguished Concerts International New York; VIP Roastery Revealed Tour, Tasting & Giftset for two from Starbucks Roastery and more.

Winners of the Silver Plume Awards included:

Chef Concierge of the Year: Briana Davis, 1 Hotel Central Park, New York; Concierge of the Year: David Rahner, JW Marriott Essex House; Best Supporting Manager: Francois Luiggi, The Pierre, A Taj Hotel New York; Hotel Excellence Award for Community Service: Lek Kidkarndee, The New York Hilton Midtown; Rising Star: Tea Ferrari, Times Square Edition.

Attendees atthe20thAnnual Hotel Excellence Awardsat 583 Park Avenueon August19, 2019. Photo credit:© Steven Rosen Photography

Winners of the Hotel Experience Awards included:

Best Budget-Friendly: The Benjamin; Best Business Service: Trump International Hotel & Tower New York; Best Concierge Service: 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge; Best Family-Friendly: New York Marriott Marquis; Best Hotel Amenities: Mandarin Oriental; Best Hotel Restaurant: 1 Hotel Central Park; Best Luxury Hotel: The St. Regis, New York; Best Overall Hotel Experience: The Carlyle.

The 20th Annual Hotel Excellence Awards featured captivating performances by the casts of Beetlejuice and Oklahoma! and attracted sponsors including La Fleur d’Harlem, Empire CLS, New York City Pass, Benjamin Restaurant Group, Joe Bananas, T-Mobile, Tourneau, MoMA, NYCgo.com, Dr. Ronald Primas, Empire State Building and PINKO.

The cast of Beetlejuiceperforming atthe20thAnnual Hotel Excellence Awardsat 583 Park Avenueon August19, 2019. Photo credit:© Steven Rosen Photography

ABOUT MORRIS MEDIA NETWORK: Morris Media Network is home to the world’s premier media brands. We’re driven to produce original, expert-driven content on topics about which we’re passionate: travel, outdoors, local interest, western and equine. You’ll find that award-winning content delivered across the globe in a powerful suite of print and digital brands. Our history and heritage in publishing dates back to 1785, but our approach today is as fresh as ever as we deliver stand-out magazines, custom publications, mobile apps, specialty websites, trusted guidebooks and travel maps.

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