The prestigious 33rd Annual South Florida Tourism Professional of the Year Award ceremony took place at the Hyatt Regency Miami, celebrating the exceptional contributions of leaders in the tourism industry. Established in 1991 by the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism (AOHT) Advisory Board, this award honors individuals who have significantly impacted the tourism community and the broader South Florida community through their professional leadership and volunteerism.
This year’s award was presented by last year’s recipient, Gene Prescott from The Biltmore, to Julissa Kepner, General Manager of the Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay. Julissa Kepner joins a distinguished list of past recipients, including Dr. Peter Ricci, Wendy Kallergis, Alvin L. West, Bob Dickenson, Merret R. Stierheim, Stuart Blumberg, William D. Talbert, III, and many others.
The nominees for this year’s award were:
- Ignacio “Nacho” Borbolla, Delta Airlines
- Yonaira Abreu, HVMG Hotels
- Allen Susser, Chef Allen’s Consulting
- Bill Hansen, The Hansen Group
- Cindy Castelblanco, Zoo Miami Foundation
- Dan Rios, GMCVB
- Dr. Michael Cheng, FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management
- Julissa Kepner, Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay
- Steve Turk, Turk Hospitality
The event was hosted by special guest MC, Belkys Nerey from WSVN 7, and successfully raised funds to support public high school students in the Academies of Hospitality & Tourism. AOHT’s mission is to prepare a diverse community of high school students for post-secondary education and careers in hospitality and tourism.
For more information, please contact: Julie Kennedy at 305-693-3030 or [email protected].
Photography: Exclusive Access Photography
