Diamond Service Awards
Date: Thursday, April 25
Location: DoubleTree by Hilton Bloomington Minneapolis South
If you have any questions about this event, please email Anna Stinson at astinson@bloomingtonmn.org or call at 952-278-8511.
About the Diamond Service Awards
As a salute to outstanding employees in the Bloomington tourism, hospitality and retail industries, Bloomington, Minnesota Travel & Tourism created the Bloomington Diamond Service Awards. This event honors and recognizes fifteen exceptional individuals on the front lines of hospitality who contribute to Bloomington’s success as a friendly, world-class destination. A special Spirit of Hospitality award honors an individual or company who has made a significant contribution to the travel industry. This award embodies the spirit of commitment to the success and future of Minnesota and Bloomington as a world-class visitor destination.
26th ANNUAL DIAMOND SERVICE AWARDS SPONSORS
Platinum Sponsors
Mall of America®
Aspiring Designs
AVEX
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Bloomington - Minneapolis South
Greenspring Media Group
Nickelodeon Universe®
Gala Sponsors
Crayola Experience
SEA LIFE at Mall of America
US Foods
Wink World
Diamond Sponsors
Capital One
Lufthansa
Contributing Sponsors
Best Western Hotels
Bix Produce
Great Wolf Lodge Minneapolis / Bloomington
Xcel Energy
Beverage Sponsors
Nine Mile Brewing
O'Shaughnessy Distillery Co
Note that additional event images will be added in the near future.
25th Annual Recipients
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2023 Spirit of Hospitality
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar
Congratulations to U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, the recipient of this year’s Spirit of Hospitality Award, presented annually to an individual or company who has made a significant contribution to the travel and hospitality industry.
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2023 Hospitality Hall of Fame
Carol Chapman • Restaurant Server • Hilton Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport
Having worked in Bloomington all her life, Carol began her hospitality career at the Country Kitchen at the age of 14. She worked at several legendary Bloomington landmarks before moving to the Hilton Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport, where she has remained for the past 17 years. Carol has always focused on the guest and makes sure that their needs are met with care. She comes to work every single day with a bright and fun personality and can turn any situation into a positive scenario. With Carol’s commitment to our hotel and our guests, she is a true ambassador for the city of Bloomington.
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2023 Hospitality Hall of Fame
Maria Pena, Room Attendant • Sheraton Bloomington Hotel • 28 years of service
Maria has been an inspiration with her steadfast and unwavering high level of service. She is loyal, reliable, trustworthy, hard-working, and follows the brand standards and protocols to a premium standard. After 28 years, her trained eye quickly discerns what needs to be done wherever she is in the building. She does things the right way and does not cut corners while taking time to personalize the guest’s room; this behavior is what sets her apart. She cares about the needs of all guests and is a true professional doing whatever it takes to keep our guests happy and our business successful.
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2023 Hospitality Hall of Fame
James Rasmussen, General Manager • Bloomington Event Center • 49 years of service
Jim has put hospitality and the Bloomington community front and center every day throughout his 40-plus-year career at the Bloomington Event Center. He has held virtually every position, working his way up to general manager in 1981. Jim has been instrumental in providing a “family” environment in which employees can thrive. He brings high energy and a problem-solving approach, constantly checking with customers and employees to make sure the operation is running smoothly. Many of the guests attending events at the Bloomington Event Center stay in our Bloomington hotels and visit Mall of America as well as other Bloomington attractions, restaurants, and retail establishments.
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2023 Hospitality Hall of Fame
Neil Rivard, Laundry Attendant • DoubleTree Bloomington South • 33 years of service
Having worked his entire career at the Doubletree by Hilton Bloomington, Neil is a shining example of how to play an important role in the success of a business. He works all areas in laundry. His attention to detail ensures spot-free, clean, crisp, and white linens are delivered to our guestrooms. Neil performs his work with an upbeat attitude and always with a smile. He genuinely enjoys what he does and takes pride in his role with hotel operations. His efforts do not go unnoticed, and we truly appreciate everything he does.
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Best Bartender
Lindsey Merten • Hazelwood Food + Drink
FINALISTS: Santiago Bravo • Cantina Laredo, Benjamin Galindo • Hyatt Regency Bloomington, Erica LeRoux • Applebee’s Grill + Bar Lyndale, Kenneth Ross • AC Hotel Bloomington
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Best Bus / Dishwasher
Gary Lawless • Marriott Minneapolis Airport
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Best Engineer / Maintenance Personnel
Tim Palm • Doubletree by Hilton Bloomington
FINALISTS: Joe Austin • Nickelodeon Universe, Manuel Guallpa • Tru by Hilton/Home2 Suites, Robert Niznik • Embassy Suites by Hilton Minneapolis Airport, Tom Wuest • JW Marriott Minneapolis Mall of America
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Best Food Production Personnel
Jose Rojas • Hilton Minneapolis/Bloomington
FINALISTS: Viola Barrientez • Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Bloomington/ Park Plaza Mall of America, Nancer Bonkat • Nickelodeon Universe, Aclema Eggert • Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Bloomington/Park Plaza Mall of America, Andres Sosa • Residence Inn by Marriott Bloomington
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Best Guest Relations Personnel
Michael Fuell • Great Wolf Lodge
FINALISTS: Sam Aanestad • Great Wolf Lodge, Melissa Pumper • Radisson Blu Mall of America, Joe Reese • SEA LIFE at Mall of America, Vida Safo • Great Wolf Lodge
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Best Hospitality Administration
Zach Gubler • SEA LIFE at Mall of America
FINALISTS: Sarah Crowley • JW Marriott Minneapolis Mall of America, Gina D’Agostino • JW Marriott Minneapolis Mall of America, Amber Dowdell • Embassy Suites by Hilton Minneapolis Airport, Danielle Norring • Radisson Blu Mall of America
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Best Hotel Guest Services (Full Service)
Dwayne Owens • Radisson Blu Mall of America
FINALISTS: Chaltu Berenton • Sheraton Bloomington Hotel, Cole Cadiz • Embassy Suites by Hilton Minneapolis Airport, Haley Palmer • Renaissance Minneapolis Bloomington Hotel, Sharmin Saigo • Hilton Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport
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Best Hotel Guest Services (Limited Service)
Pierre Curd • Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Bloomington/Park Plaza Mall of America
FINALISTS: AJ Hernandez • TownePlace Suites Minneapolis Mall of America, Alicia Morales • Hilton Garden Inn Mall of America, Jessica Sanchez • Courtyard by Marriott Bloomington by Mall of America, Ellie Jennifer Satoh • TownePlace Suites Minneapolis Mall of America
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Best Housekeeping Personnel (Full Service)
Phuong Lam • Hilton Minneapolis/Bloomington
FINALISTS: Indranie Jaddunath • Doubletree by Hilton Bloomington, Jessica Kaiser • Radisson Blu Mall of America, Pam Keene • Radisson Blu Mall of America, James Yates • JW Marriott Minneapolis Mall of America
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Best Housekeeping Personnel (Limited Service)
Alberto Saldana Quevedo • Hyatt Place Minneapolis Airport-South
FINALISTS: Esther Adeniran • Hyatt Place Minneapolis Airport-South, Elias Escobar • Tru by Hilton/Home2 Suites, Vilma Medina • Residence Inn by Marriott Bloomington, Carrie Poepping • Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Bloomington/Park Plaza Mall of America
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Best Retail Personnel
Jalon Gilbert • Great Wolf Lodge
FINALISTS: Stacy Ruiz • Crayola Experience, De-lajah Voss-Burt • SEA LIFE at Mall of America
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Best Banquet / Catering Personnel
Norma Moreno • Radisson Blu Mall of America
FINALISTS: Ramsey Ferguson • Hilton Minneapolis/Bloomington, Jessica Kerns • Radisson Blu Mall of America, Eric Lavold • Hyatt Regency Bloomington, Judy Nieto • Hilton Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport
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Best Restaurant Personnel
Gabriella Auguilar • Hazelwood Food + Drink
FINALISTS: Tara Cole • Pizza Novaro, Felipe Secundino • Cantina Laredo
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Best Hotel Restaurant Personnel
Juan Robles • Radisson Blu Mall of America
FINALISTS: Adel Barbouche • Sheraton Bloomington Hotel, Beatriz Guallpa • Tru by Hilton/Home2 Suites, Robyn Kelly • Hilton Minneapolis/Bloomington, Biljana Saad • Doubletree by Hilton Bloomington, William Wandzel • JW Marriott Minneapolis Mall of America
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Best Transportation Personnel
Gary Klouda • Doubletree by Hilton Bloomington
FINALISTS: Alex Akuloff • Tru by Hilton/Home2 Suites, Tim Goetz • Hyatt Place Minneapolis Airport-South, Mark Lokowich • Embassy Suites by Hilton Minneapolis Airport, Bashir Mahamud • Tru by Hilton/Home2 Suites
Watch videos from the 25th Annual Diamond Service Awards 
