Kent County Lodging Assoc Announces 2014 Board

(KCLA Executive Board (l-r) Jenifer Cutter, Secretary; Brian Behler, President; Nick Fischioni, Vice President; Suzanne Nichols, Treasurer)

The Kent County Lodging Association (KCLA) voted in its 2014 Executive Board of Directors at its annual meeting on January 16 at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids.

The executive board includes:

• Brian Behler, Assistant General Manager for the JW Marriott, was elected to his sixth one-year term as President after previously two years as the organization’s Vice President and one year as its Secretary.
• Nick Fischioni, General Manager of the Hyatt Hotel, was elected to his first term as Vice President.
• Jenifer Cutter, General Manager at the Courtyard by Marriott Downtown, was elected to her first term as Secretary;
• Suzanne Nichols, Assistant General Manager at the Hyatt Hotel, was elected to her second term Treasurer.

Committee chairs, which make up the extended Board of Directors, include:

• Nick Fischioni, Hyatt Hotel – Membership Committee (Interim)
• Dan Hunt, SpringHill Suites North – Events Committee
• Renae Hesselink Nichols – Green Team Committee
• Ryan Slusarzyk, Amway Hotel Corp – Charity Relations Committee
• Megan Hill, SpringHill Suites North & Travis Mix, Susan G Komen – Experience Pink Committee
• Mike Donnelley, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel – Student Relations Committee
• Dianna Stampfler, Promote Michigan & KCLA – Scholarship Committee
• Emily Capron, Experience Grand Rapids – WAVE Awards Committee
• Rick Winn, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel – Communications/Political Committee

KCLA meets at 3pm on the third Thursday of each month at select venues throughout Kent County, including member hotels, restaurants and attractions. Two special events are open to the public, including a golf outing to be held on Wednesday, June 25 at the Stonewater Country Club, in conjunction with the Hospitality Department at GVSU and benefitting scholarship programs; and the WAVE Awards Recognition Ceremony held during the Grand Rapids International Wine & Food Festival on Thursday, November 20.

Re-established in the summer of 2005, KCLA is a non-profit, membership based organization made up of lodging properties and other hospitality businesses which service and compliment this industry. The organization meets monthly at hotels and destination properties throughout Kent County and also hosts educational training seminars, social activities and fundraisers for its hospitality scholarship fund.

KCLA serves to promote practical and fair cooperation with local, state and the United States governmental agencies on behalf of the Association members. It also works to advance and promote the fair exchange of information necessary in the public interest, or for the welfare of the lodging business as well as practical public relations in the interest of the lodging business; and encourages the spirit of friendly cooperation and the exchange of business among the members of the Association thus enabling the lodging businesses in the Kent County Area to better serve the public.

www.KentCountyLodging.org

Kent County Hotels & Businesses Unite to Fight Breast Cancer

This February, local hotels and businesses will be rolling out the pink carpet to educate the community on breast cancer through Susan G. Komen West Michigan

Local hotels and businesses are taking action to end breast cancer by partnering with Susan G. Komen West Michigan for the entire month of February in an endeavor titled Experience Pink. Every 74 seconds, somewhere in the world, someone dies from breast cancer. Experience Pink will spread awareness and raise needed funds for the ongoing fight to end breast cancer.

Show the love – make an impact. The community is encouraged to enjoy a night out at one of the 16 participating Kent County hotels or 30 downtown businesses, knowing a portion of their evening will go towards funding grants to local hospitals and community organizations that provide breast health education and breast cancer screening and treatment programs.

“Many families in Kent County are affected by breast cancer as well as many families coming into Grand Rapids’ Medical Mile,” states Doug Small, president Experience Grand Rapids. “Experience Pink is a great collaboration with Susan G. Komen and our tourism industry to give back to the community and help in the continued dedication to finding a cure and providing hope.”

“We are thrilled by the generosity of the community and being afforded the opportunity to bring awareness and an end to breast cancer. 75% of the funds raised by Susan G. Komen West Michigan stay right here in West Michigan, helping women who need it the most. It's a vital service for the 1 in 8 women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime,” said Emma Powell, executive director of Susan G. Komen West Michigan.

“The JW Marriott considers it an honor to be taking part in this endeavor and as President of the Kent County Lodging Association we felt it was vital to do something to make a difference and bring the community together. I lost my mom to breast cancer and ever since then my family and I have been very passionate about making a difference. The Experience Pink event allows us all to create awareness, fundraise and change lives, together we are stronger,” said Brian Behler, director of Rooms at the JW Marriott.

“Downtown and its merchants are happy to support this important campaign that is working to end breast cancer and will welcome survivors and their families and friends to Grand Rapids. Our merchants will participate in several ways to show their support and turn the downtown pink,” said Nicole Weichelt, marketing coordinator for the Downtown Alliance.

“We are thrilled to be able to participate in Experience Pink by offering special discounts to breast cancer survivors while also collecting donations for Susan G. Komen West Michigan. We hope to see this campaign grow every year with more businesses and hotels participating,” said Gina VanGessel, owner of Gina’s Boutique.

For a list of participating hotels and businesses go to www.ExperienceGR.com/ExperiencePink. For more information on how you can join the fight to end breast cancer visit www.komenwestmichigan.org.


About Susan G. Komen West Michigan
The West Michigan Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® is dedicated to combating breast cancer at every front. Up to 75 percent of the Affiliate’s net income goes toward funding grants to local hospitals and community organizations that provide breast health education and breast cancer screening and treatment programs for medically underserved women. The remaining net income (a minimum of 25 percent) supports the national Komen Grants Program, which funds groundbreaking breast cancer research, meritorious awards and educational and scientific programs around the world.

The Komen West Michigan Affiliate’s services area covers Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, and Ottawa counties. Thanks to the thousands of people who participate in the Susan G. Komen West Michigan Race for the Cure® and other Affiliate events each year, dedicated corporate partners and generous donors, Komen West Michigan is playing a vital role in fighting breast cancer in our community.

About Experience Grand Rapids the convention & visitors bureau
Grand Rapids is the second largest city in Michigan located in the heart of Michigan’s West Coast. This destination provides a remarkable combination of urban sophistication and smalltown warmth in a region of abundant natural resources. Start your experience of Grand Rapids, Kent County and Michigan’s West Coast at www.ExperienceGR.com

Participating Hotels:
For a list of the packages the 16 participating hotels are offering go to, www.ExperienceGR.com/ExperiencePink.

1. Amway Grand Plaza
2. CityFlats Hotel
3. Comfort Inn Airport Grand Rapids
4. Courtyard by Marriott Downtown
5. Hilton Grand Rapids Airport
6. Holiday Inn – Grand Rapids Airport
7. Holiday Inn Grand Rapids Downtown
8. Hyatt Place Grand Rapids - South
9. JW Marriott Grand Rapids
10. Peaches Bed & Breakfast
11. Prince Conference Center at Calvin College
12. Radisson Grand Rapids Riverfront Hotel
13. Ramada Plaza Hotel
14. Residence Inn by Marriott Grand Rapids West
15. Springhill Suites North by Marriott

Three Students Awarded Kent County Lodging Association Scholarships for Hospitality Education

(l-r) Brandi Kushuba, FSU; Erin Lecker, GVSU; Gabrielle McMaster, FSU.

The Kent County Lodging Association (KCLA) has announced the recipients of its 2011 / 2012 Hospitality Education Scholarships. A total of 5 applications were received from students representing three different educational institutions. Three students were awarded scholarships for the upcoming academic year at the KCLA April 21 meeting held at the Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Grand Rapids.

This year’s recipients include:

• Erin Lecker
Grand Valley State University (sophomore from Saginaw, Mich)
Major: Hospitality & Tourism Management
Minor: Spanish
Scholarship Amount: $1000

• Gabrielle McMaster
Ferris State University (sophomore from Pinconning, Mich)
Major: Resort Management
Minors: Club Management; Special Event & Meeting Planning
Scholarship Amount: $500

• Brandi Kushuba
Ferris State University (sophomore from Grand Blanc, Mich)
Major: Resort Management
Minors: Club Management; Special Event & Meeting Planning
Scholarship Amount: $500

To be considered for one of the scholarships, the student had to be enrolled in the hospitality, travel/tourism and/or food service program at their respective college, university or institution; must be in at least this/her second year of the program; must have an accumulative GPS of 3.00 or higher; must have a minimum of 500 hours of practical on-the-job experience (including paid or unpaid internships) in his/her field of study; and must be endorsed by the department.

Re-established in the summer of 2005, KCLA is a non-profit, membership based organization made up of lodging properties and other hospitality businesses which service and compliment this industry. The organization meets monthly at hotels and destination properties throughout Kent County and also hosts educational training seminars, social activities and fundraisers for its hospitality scholarship fund.

KCLA serves to promote practical and fair cooperation with local, state and the United States governmental agencies on behalf of the Association members. It also works to advance and promote the fair exchange of information necessary in the public interest, or for the welfare of the lodging business as well as practical public relations in the interest of the lodging business; and encourages the spirit of friendly cooperation and the exchange of business among the members of the Association thus enabling the lodging businesses in the Kent County Area to better serve the public.