PHOTOS: CFHLA 2024 Golden Pineapple Awards

Southwest Orange
Neighborhood

Photos courtesy of Britt Runion Studios Inc.

The Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association honored some of the best in the hospital industry at its annual Golden Pineapple Awards dinner and celebration Thursday, Feb. 22, at the Orlando World Center Marriott.

Ybeth Bruzual, of Spectrum News 13, served as the emcee for the event, which attracted nearly 950 attendees.

Throughout the evening, CFHLA recognized and honored 13 hospitality employees, as the winners for each of the designated categories.

The 2024 Golden Pineapple Award winners include:

Outstanding Back Office Employee of the Year: Laura Grisales, Loews Hotels at Universal Orlando — Lakewood

Outstanding Bell Person/Concierge Employee of the Year: Anthony Dunn, Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress

Outstanding Community Service Employee of the Year: Steve Averitt, Reunion Resort & Spa

Outstanding Convention Center/Banquet Employee of the Year: MDavid Munoz, Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes

Outstanding Culinary Employee of the Year: Maria Sandoval, JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes

Outstanding Engineering Employee of the Year: William “Bill” Warren, Sheraton Suites Orlando Airport

Outstanding Food & Beverage Service Employee of the Year: Leidy “Paola” Marin, Homewood Suites Orlando I-Drive Convention Center

Outstanding Front Office Employee of the Year: Glenda Baker, Marriott's Royal, Sabal & Imperial Palms

Outstanding Housekeeping Employee of the Year: Camille Hall, Holiday Inn Orlando International Airport

Outstanding Laundry Employee of the Year: Zenaida Ibanez Gamboa, Hampton Inn & Suites Orlando/East UCF Area

Outstanding Recreational Employee of the Year: Travis Buffenbarger, Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center

Outstanding Security/Loss Prevention Employee of the Year: Fidel Cosbert, Hyatt Regency Orlando

Outstanding Steward/Dishwasher Employee of the Year: Weendy Gomez De Lopez, Universal's Aventura Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort

The Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association’s mission is to represent the Central Florida Hospitality Industry, by setting the standard of excellence through advocacy, collaboration, education, recognition, and service. As the largest regional lodging association in the United States, CFHLA represents about 80% of the more than 129,500 hotel rooms in Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties, and more than 500 supplier organizations that do business with the hospitality and tourism industries.

author

Michael Eng

As a child, Editor and Publisher Michael Eng collected front pages of the Kansas City Star during Operation Desert Storm, so it was a foregone conclusion that he would pursue a career in journalism. He holds a journalism degree from the University of Missouri — Columbia School of Journalism. When he’s not working, you can find him spending time with his wife and three children, or playing drums around town. He’s also a sucker for dad jokes.