DHLA honors
UD's Laws, Sullivan receive Delaware Hotel and Lodging Association awards
9:59 a.m., March 16, 2015--Two University of Delaware employees, Donna Laws and William Sullivan, have been honored by the Delaware Hotel and Lodging Association (DHLA).
Laws, business administrator for UD’s Department of Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management (HRIM) in the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics, has been named the DHLA associate member of the year and Sullivan, managing director of Marriott’s Courtyard Newark at the University of Delaware, has been named the hotelier of the year.
Honors Stories
National Medal of Science
Warren Award
The two were honored during the DHLA’s annual Stars of the Industry awards dinner held Feb. 20 at the Deerfield Golf Club in Newark.
In addition, three UD hospitality students were presented scholarship awards. Jenna Pekofsky received the Gregory Kramedas Award and Guido D. Iammatteo and Josh Vogel received DHLA Awards.
Laws was recognized for “going the extra mile” to help the association with its scholarship program essays and awards, to provide staffing volunteers for its golf outing and to assist with DHLA business.
Sullivan was cited for demonstrating outstanding contributions in leadership, service and community and civic affairs, with performance that “goes above and beyond the normal job responsibilities and outstanding and unusual service to the property, guests and the community.”
Under Sullivan’s leadership, DHLA noted, the Courtyard Newark has had consistent increases in occupancy and has received numerous awards for customer service, excellent food and community service.
The citation said that Sullivan “possesses decades of hands-on and educational experience in the hospitality and business realms” and uses this experience in the cultivating a diverse and award-winning staff and in working with students, with more than 1,000 having studies in the lodging module, a unique combination of classwork and experiential learning.
Photos by Kathy F. Atkinson