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Our Philadelphia Training Program - The Wonderful Whirl Thru Philly(WWTP)

I'm sure you've heard of the "Amazing Race." Well here in Philadelphia we have "The Wonderful Whirl Thru Philly." This event was held on June 17th, 2010. The WWTP is an excellent team exercise with a fast-paced, in-depth, energizing, fun-filled event, guaranteed to add lasting value.

Teams traveled on Philly's SEPTA system and/or walked for a thrilling adventure through Philadelphia and visited our pre-determined locations throughout the city. Once teams arrived at each destination they had to complete the challenges specific to each location— all while experiencing the unbeatable sights and sounds of the city. Teams were given a CLUECARD at the onset of the WWTP. After they complete the assigned challenges at each station, teams received another CLUECARD signaling them to their next STATION. This continued until teams have completed the entire course.

It was a one-of-a-kind experience that allowed hotel employees to experience Philadelphia in a unique way. This event gave participants a great way to learn about attractions located throughout Old City and the surrounding neighborhoods. Click on the link to see some of the photos that were taken during The Wonderful Whirl Thru Philly.

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Philadelphia Hospitality Show - 2010

The Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association in partnership with the Philadelphia Vicinity Club Managers Association held its 2010 Hospitality Show on March 15th at the Union League of Philadelphia. With more than 75 vendors on hand to promote their products and facilities to the over 400 hotel and club managers, the trade show was a great success. We were able to learn about all the products and services they have to offer. This was a great way for industry professionals to network with one another. The benefits of the trade show will extend well beyond the day of this event.

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GPHA Scholarship & The LAGOS Heart of Philadelphia Awards Luncheon

PCVB & GPTMC CHAIRMEN HONORED BY HOTEL COMMUNITY

The Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association recently honored Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau Chairman Nick DeBenedictis and Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corp. Chairman Manny Stamatakis with the LAGOS Heart of Philadelphia Award. The award honors individuals or organizations that have had a significant impact upon the hospitality industry within the preceding year. More than 400 attendees, including Mayor Nutter and several members of City Council, joined together to honor the two friends and leaders for their remarkable contributions to Philadelphia’s hotel and hospitality industry. The event, which took place at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, awarded $39,000 in scholarships to those pursuing careers in hospitality management.

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2009 GPHA Hotel Olympics
11/18/09

2009 Champions: Sheraton Society Hill


We Came, We Saw, We Built
1st Place: Sheraton Society Hill
2nd Place: Crowne Plaza Valley Forge
3rd Place: Valley Forge Homewood Suites

Ready, Set, Bake
1st Place: Student Collegiate Team
2nd Place: Sheraton Society Hill
3rd Place: Doubletree Philadelphia Hotel

Pie Eating Contest
1st Place: Park Hyatt at the Bellevue
2nd Place: Embassy Suites Center City
3rd Place: Holiday Inn Express Midtown

Philly Feud Trivia Contest
1st Place: Sheraton Society Hill
2nd Place: Courtyard by Marriott Philadelphia Downtown
3rd Place: Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia

GM Match Game
1st Place: Hyatt at Penn’s Landing
2nd Place: Doubletree Hotel
3rd Place: Hilton Garden Inn Center City

Martini Dash
1st Place: Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia
2nd Place: Sheraton Society Hill
3rd Place: Loews Philadelphia Hotel

 

 

 

 

 

Blindfolded Bed-Making Contest
1st Place: Loews Philadelphia Hotel
2nd Place: Student Collegiate Team
3rd Place: Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia

Cart Stock Relay
1st Place: Crowne Plaza Valley Forge
2nd Place: Homewood Suites Valley Forge
3rd Place: Embassy Suites Center City

Toilet Paper Toss
1st Place: Loews Philadelphia Hotel
2nd Place: Residence Inn Center City
3rd Place: Homewood Suites Valley Forge

 

 

The Hotel Olympics is a day of fun and friendly competition. Hotel staff and general managers from the region compete for "The Cup" and celebrate the hard work that they do year round. This year for the first time a student collegiate team was included to compete. Some of the contests were the good old Blindfolded Bed-Making, Martini Dash, Toilet Paper Toss, and a new addition Ready, Set, Bake.
View photo slideshow >>

11th Annual Stars of the Industry Awards Program

The Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association (GPHA) held the 11th Annual Stars of the Industry Awards Program September 30, 2009 at the Hilton Inn at Penn. The Awards are presented as a means of recognizing outstanding performance, commitment and achievements in the hotel industry. The nominees were treated like Stars as each was recognized on stage; their zeal was visible was visible of how proud they were of their achievements. The winners of the evening's event are as follows:

  • Bessie Greene, Hilton Inn at Penn, Outstanding Lodging Employee of the Year- Front of the House
  • Benita Gilchrist, Holiday Inn Express Midtown, Outstanding Lodging Employee of the Year- Back of the House
  • Stephanie Legros, Loews Philadelphia Hotel, Outstanding Lodging Manager of the Year
  • Marriott Business Council of Philadelphia Monte Carlo Night & Chairperson Peter Marks, Community Services Award
  • Eric Tomlin, The Windsor Suites, Guest Relations Award
  • Felicia Simon, Temple University - STHM and Omni Hotel at Independence Park, Student of the Year
  • Philadelphia OIC, Allied Member of the Year

GPHA will enter these winners in each category into the state and national Spirit of Hospitality Programs sponsored by the American Hotel & Lodging Association.

View photo slideshow >>

GPHA's 2009 Alex's Lemonade Stand Days

GPHA hosted the 6th Annual Alex's Lemonade Days, June 11 -15, 2009, bringing 21 hotels to hold lemonade stands, selling classical lemonade with special promotions to benefit the organization in its quest to fight all childhood cancer. Alex's Lemonade Days is a nationwide fundraiser for Alex Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF). This year's Lemonade Stand Days raised $56,235.00; but GPHA's efforts are not possible without the enthusiastic hotels and the people of the community.

Since beginning our partnership in 2005, GPHA has raised a total of $262,400 for ALSF.
www.alexslemonade.org

View photo slideshow >>

2009 GPHA Softball Championship

1st Place Courtyard by Marriott Philadelphia Downtown

2nd Place Philadelphia Trolley Works

3rd Place Doubletree Hotel Philadelphia

Thanks for a great season!

View photo slideshow >>

GPHA's Wonderful Whirl Thru Philly
6/18/09

You've all seen the hit network reality program: "The Amazing Race", well NOW'S YOUR CHANCE TO LIVE IT, thru a one-of-a-kind interactive experience throughout the City of Brotherly Love; "THE WONDERFUL WHIRL THRU PHILLY"! The WWTP is an excellent opportunity to provide your employees with a fast-paced, in-depth, energizing, fun-filled event, guaranteed to add lasting value to your employees.

View photo slideshow >>

GPHA Membership Networking
6/18/09

Join this informal group of GPHA members at the Park Hyatt at the Bellevue in Philadelphia to learn more about each other's businesses and exchange business cards.

GPHA Annual Golf Outing
5/12/09

Join the Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association (GPHA), industry organizatons and suppliers on the greens for a great day of golf and networking. If you are not a golfer we invite you to join us for cocktails and lunch. In addition, we will have our famous silent auction including destination packages with transportation, casino & dinner packages, golf packages and our live auction with great sports memorabilia and many more exciting items.

The proceeds from the golf outing fund the Michael M. Boyle Scholarship: a program that awards scholarships to high school students and college students pursuing a hospitality and/or culinary career. Our efforts, along with the generous support of many others such as yourself, have generated nearly $440,000.

View photo slideshow >>

2009 GPHA Hospitality Show
3/16/09

We encourage you and your department to support GPHA's allied members and take this opportunity to learn about the products and services they have to offer. The benefits of the trade show will extend well beyond the day of the event!

2008 GPHA Scholarship & Hospitality Awards Luncheon
12/15/08

Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association awarded $44,000 in scholarship money, including two (2) partial scholarships to The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College, to high school and college students enrolled in hospitality management and culinary programs at this year's annual luncheon held at the Park Hyatt at the Bellevue.

 

This year’s Heart of Philadelphia Award went to The Philadelphia Phillies who brought excitement and national attention to Philadelphia – not only as the home of the World Series champion but as a enticing tourism and travel destination.

 

Also honored were folks who go above and beyond daily business to visitors and the community with the Nice Touch Award.

View photo slideshow >>

2008 GPHA Hotel Olympics
11/25/08

2008 Champions: Four Seasons Hotel

Toilet Bocce Ball
1st Place: Four Seasons Hotel
2nd Place: Courtyard by Marriott
3rd Place: Hilton Garden Inn Center City

Blindfolded Bed-Making Contest
1st Place: Hilton Garden Inn Center City
2nd Place: Courtyard by Marriott
3rd Place: Homewood Suites

Fajita Flip
1st Place: Four Seasons Hotel
2nd Place: Hyatt at Penn’s Landing
3rd Place: Loews Philadelphia Hotel

Cart Stocking Relay
1st Place: Hyatt at Penn’s Landing
2nd Place: Four Seasons Hotel
3rd Place: Park Hyatt at the Bellevue

Martini Dash
1st Place: Four Seasons Hotel
2nd Place: Hyatt at Penn’s Landing
3rd Place: Doubletree Hotel
GM Match Game
1st Place: Hyatt at Penn’s Landing
2nd Place: Doubletree Hotel
3rd Place: Hilton Garden Inn Center City

 

 


The Hotel Olympics is a fun filled day of good-natured competition including staff and General Managers from hotels all over the region as they compete for “The Cup” and celebrate the hard work they do year round. Contests include Blindfolded Bed Making, the Martini Dash, the Cart Stock Relay, the Toilet Paper Toss and much more.
View photo slideshow >>

 

We Came, We Saw, We Built
1st Place: The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia
2nd Place: Homewood Suites
3rd Place: Loews Philadelphia Hotel
Team War Relay
1st Place: Courtyard by Marriott
2nd Place: The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia
3rd Place: Hyatt at Penn’s Landing

Philly Feud Trivia Contest
1st Place: Park Hyatt at the Bellevue
2nd Place: Hilton Garden Inn Center City
3rd Place: Homewood Suites

Wing Bowl
1st Place: Holiday Inn Express Midtown
2nd Place: Four Seasons Hotel
3rd Place: Homewood Suites

Toilet Paper Toss
1st Place: Homewood Suites
2nd Place: Loews Philadelphia Hotel
3rd Place: Courtyard by Marriott

Stars of the Industry Awards Program
09/24/08

The Stars of the hospitality industry lit up the room (or...were out in full force) at the Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association's 10th Annual Stars of the Industry Awards Program held at the Doubletree Hotel Philadelphia. Lori Wilson, General Assignment Reporter for NBC 10 was the evenings emcee.  She was fantastic and enjoyed talking with the nominees as each crossed the stage to accept his or her certificate of award. View photo slideshow >>

2008 GPHA Softball Championship

1st Place – Towne Park

2nd Place – Philadelphia Marriott Downtown

3rd Place – Philadelphia Airport Marriott/Marriott West

Thanks for a great season!

View photo slideshow >>

GPHA Alex's Lemonade Stand Days
06/05-08/2008

Second-graders participate in Alex's Lemonade Stand View slideshow

CBS Phone Bank View Slideshow

GPHA Member Hotels participate in Alex's Lemonade Stand Days View Slideshow
More photos from the event
View video from CBS3

Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association 2008 Annual Scholarship Golf Outing
05/07/2008

View Slide Show