PE.com - Tourism Blog

Palm Springs Honors its Own

Unless you're a fan of the hermit style of vacationing where interaction with other human beings is best if it doesn't happen at all, hospitality workers can either make our day or make it a little more irksome.

On Sunday, Palm Springs tourism officials honored the folks who keep tourists happy whether or not tourists realize someone's making the effort -- those employees in the front of the house and "heart of the house" (working behind the scenes)

Here's who won:

Hotel Front of the House
Norma Hanna, Desert Isle Resort

Hotel "Heart of the House"
Mary Richards, Wyndham Palm Springs

Restaurant Front of the House
Alfredo Martinez, Hyatt Regency Suites Palm Springs

Restaurant "Heart of the House"
Miguel Gonzalez, Look Restaurant

Retail Employee of the Year
Recardo Chacone, Sunrise Beauty Supply

Attractions Employee of the Year
Rex Waggoner, The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies

Volunteer of the Year
Jim Borba, AIDS Assistance Program

The Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism also honored Bill Davis of Celebrity Tours as the organization's Partner of the Year and former Mayor Will Kleindienst with a Hall of Fame award for his support and starting the annual Festival of Lights parade and Veteran's Day parade.