2023 Excellence in Hospitality Awards

The 2023 Excellence in Hospitality Awards was held May 11, 2023 at Bally's Shreveport Casino & Hotel in Shreveport. Photos from the 2023 Excellence and Hospitality Awards are available here. Thank you to Shannon Palmer Photography. Join us in congratulating this year's recipients:

(If in list format, honorees will be listed alphabetically.)

• OUTSTANDING ATTRACTION WINNER - SB Rides
• OUTSTANDING BARTENDER WINNER
  • Jessica Deason, Sam's Town Hotel and Casino Shreveport
  • ​Nipa Molina, Horseshoe Casino & Hotel Bossier City
• OUTSTANDING CASINO EXECUTIVE WINNER - Jason Roberts, Bally's Shreveport Casino & Hotel
• OUTSTANDING CASINO FLOOR PROFESSIONAL WINNER - Lushus Tyler, Louisiana Downs Casino and Racetrack
• OUTSTANDING CULINARY PROFESSIONAL WINNER - Joslin Mar-Dai Pickens, Vegans on the Run
• ​OUTSTANDING EVENT WINNER - Christmas In Roseland, American Rose Society
• OUTSTANDING EVENT/VENUE WINNER - Eleven Events, LLC
• OUTSTANDING FOOD SERVER WINNER
  • ​Horia Hebert, Sam's Town Hotel & Casino
  • Valerie Perot, Hampton Inn Shreveport Bossier City
• OUTSTANDING HOTEL SALES PROFESSIONAL WINNER
  • ​Limited Service: Sabrina Edwards, Dimension Hospitality
  • Full Service: Tracy Young, Hilton Shreveport​
• OUTSTANDING HOTEL/GUEST SERVICE PROFESSIONAL WINNER
  • ​Cornell Jackson, Bally's Shreveport Casino & Hotel
  • Crystal Persley, Springhill Suites by Marriott
• OUTSTANDING HOUSEKEEPING PROFESSIONAL WINNER
  • Laquisha Moss, Hilton Shreveport
  • Tawana Brow, Springhill Suites by Marriott​
• OUTSTANDING TRANSPORTATION PROFESSIONAL WINNERS - Bryan Feldhiser, iShuttle, LLC
• OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER WINNER - Eric Hess
• TOURISM TRAILBLAZER OF THE YEAR - Bonne Summers, Apex Communications & Events
• GOLDEN PINEAPPLE AWARDS
  • ​Diane Short, Louisiana Downs Casino and Racetrack
  • Franklyn Briscoe, Louisiana Downs Casino and Racetrack
  • Jill Hughes, Louisiana Downs Casino and Racetrack

Department Awards

(If in list format, honorees will be listed alphabetically.)

• COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT
  • ​Jamie Bradford Lopez, SOBO Promotional Products
  • Kyle Johnson, Kyle Johnson Photography
• SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER SPORTS COMMISSION (SBSC)
  • Pat Harwell – Partner of the Year
  • Bob Gross – Operations Hero
  • Penny Addington – Volunteer of the Year
  • Ronnie Lammons – Volunteer of the Year
• CONVENTION & TOURISM SALES DEPARTMENT
  • Jennifer Boone, Convention Hotel Partner of the Year Award – Dimension Hospitality
  • Lisa Miller, Group Experience Award – Sanctuary Glass
  • Krewe of Centaur – Festival Event Partner
  • Krewe of Gemini – Festival Event Partner

2022 Excellence in Hospitality Awards Winners

The 2022 Excellence in Hospitality Awards was held May 9, 2022 at Sam's Town Hotel and Casino in Shreveport. Join us in congratulating this year's recipients:

(If in list format, honorees will be listed alphabetically.)

• Attraction of the Year – Bossier Arts Council
• Attraction Employee of the Year - Dr. Heather Kleiner, Sci-Port Discovery Center
• Bartender of the Year - Eric Tietjen, Hilton Hotel Shreveport
• Casino Employee of the Year - Mark Breaux, Sam's Town Hotel and Casino
• Casino Executive/Non-Sales Employee of the Year - Aimee Conn-Ludwig, Sam's Town Hotel and Casino
• Chef of the Year (Hotel) - Henry Rodriguez, Sam's Town Hotel and Casino
• Chef of the Year (Restaurant) - Anthony Felan, Fat Calf Brasserie
• Event Professional of the Year - Destiny Garcia, Shreveport Aquarium
• Event Professional of the Year (Event Planner) - Sylvester Marshall, The Social Circle of Louisiana
• Event Venue of the Year - Shreveport Aquarium
• Hospitality Heroes
  • Keysha Hayes, Louisiana Downs Casino & Racetrack
  • Ruthie Mae White Capers, Fairfield Place Bed and Breakfast
• Hotel Bellman of the Year - Cornell Jackson, Bally's Shreveport Casino & Hotel
• Hotel Engineering Employee of the Year - Brandi Crockett, Sam's Town Hotel and Casino
• Hotel Sales Professional of the Year - Amy McGee, Hampton Inn Shreveport-Bossier
• Hotel Housekeeping Professional of the Year - Verdell Davis, Hampton Inn Shreveport-Bossier
• Hotel/Non-Sales Professional of the Year - LaKasia Williams, Hampton Inn Shreveport-Bossier
• Outstanding Services of the Year 
  • Mary Rhodes, Appi-K's Embroidery and Gifts
  • Preston Lowder, Lowder Baking Company
• Restaurant Employee of the Year - Brandy Bryant, Herby-K's
• Restauranteur of the Year - Ryan Hope, Port City Bar B Que
• Volunteer of the Year - Mark Crawford
• Community Collaboration Award (Attraction) - Bakowski Bridge of Lights on the Texas Street Bridge
  • Dr. George and Sandra Bakowski
  • City of Bossier City
  • City of Shreveport
  • Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development
  • Louisiana Public Service Commission
  • Red River Waterway Commission
  • Shreveport Public Assembly and Recreation
• Lifetime Partner Award - Captain Sandy Jackson
• Tourism Trailblazer of the Year - Liz Swaine, Shreveport Downtown Development Authority (DDA)

Department Awards

(If in list format, honorees will be listed alphabetically.)

Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission (SBSC)

• Community Collaboration Award (Event) - Archery Shooters Association
  • Bossier Parish Police Jury
  • Caddo Parish Commission
  • Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development
  • Louisiana National Guard
  • Visit Webster Parish
  • Webster Parish Police Jury
• SBSC Vendor of the Year - Majestic Tents & Event
• SBSC Sponsor of the Year - CenterPoint Energy
• SBSC Venue of the Year - Brookshire Grocery Arena

Communications Department 

• Gorilla Design Studio
• Ernest's Orleans Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge
• R.W. Norton Art Gallery

Convention and Tourism Sales Department

• Cyber Innovation Center
• Evelyn Hanson, Horseshoe Casino & Resort
• Louisiana School Board Association
• Tanya Sullivan, Margaritaville Resort Casino

2021 Excellence in Hospitality Awards Winners

The 2021 Excellence in Hospitality Awards was held May 6, 2021 at LeBossier Hotel and Event Center in Bossier City. Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser was on hand to help present the awards. Join us in congratulating last year's recipients:

• Attraction of the Year – Sci-Port Discovery Center
• Attraction Professional - New Business - Vernon Stevenson, Port City Exotic Rides
• Attraction Professional - Melanie Coleman, Holiday Lanes LLC
• Attraction Employee of the Year - Greg Andrews, Sci-Port Discovery Center
• Hotelier of the Year Award - Limited-Service - Jywone McClinton, Hampton Inn - Bossier - Gould Drive
• Hotelier of the Year Award - Full Service - Theresa Peters, LeBossier Hotel & Event Center
• Housekeeper Professional - Executive - Shandra Hawthorne, LeBossier Hotel & Event Center
• Housekeeper Professional - Full-Service Front Desk - Linda Morris, LeBossier Hotel & Event Center
• Hotel Sales Professional - Focused Service - Jax Gaynor, Remington Suite Hotel and Spa
• Centennial Award - Orlandeaux's Café - 100 Years in Business
• Restaurateur of the Year - Pop N Pizza
• Restaurant Employee of the Year - Christina Thomason, Herby K's Restaurant
• Chef of the Year - Blake Jackson, Whisk Dessert Bar
• Hotel Chef of the Year - Christy Porter, The Three Dons/LeBossier Hotel & Event Center
• Bartender of the Year - Bob Thames, Great Raft Brewing
• Hospitality Hero - Kathy Ross, C&C Mercantile & Lighting
• Business Hospitality Hero - Clint McCommon, Fairfield Studios
• Lifetime Achievement - Mayor Lorenz Walker, City of Bossier City
• Friend of Tourism - Chris Robinson, Chief of Fire Prevention, Shreveport Fire Department
• Timeless Hospitality - Betty Walpool, Shreveport-Bossier Convention & Tourist Bureau
• Champion of Tourism - Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser, State of Louisiana
• Communications Department Award - Karen Logan, Boom or Bust Byway
• Communications Department Award - Doug Rogers, Bayou Axe Throwing Company
• Communications Department Award - Beaux Hays, BeauxJax Crafthouse
• Communications Department Award - Aaron "Peanut" Hanning, Frozen Pirogue
• Communications Department Award - Darius Spells, Red Barn Crawfish and Seafood
• Convention and Tourism Sales Department Award - Alpha Phi Alpha
• Convention and Tourism Sales Department Award - Bonne Summers, APEX Communications & Events
• Convention and Tourism Department Award - Sam's Town Hotel & Casino
• Partner of the Year - Mike Monroe, Coca Cola Company of Shreveport
• Health Care Provider of the Year - LSU Health Shreveport
• Teamwork Award - Shreveport Convention Center
• Teamwork Award - Hilton Hotel Shreveport
• Tourism Trailblazer of the Year - Chris Giordano, State Fair of Louisiana

2021 Excellence in Hospitality Awards Photos