MIAMI -- The 500-room Hilton Miami Airport and Towers won the Best
Overall Performance Award from Hilton Hotels Corp. for 1999 -- for
the third consecutive year.
The property, run by general manager Farooq Rehmat-wala, made
winning the award a yearlong project. It competed with more than
300 hotels in Hilton's airport division.
Hilton also presents annual awards within its commercial,
resorts, Hilton Suites and Hilton Garden Inn divisions. The Hilton
Sandestin Beach Resort in Destin (resort) and the Hilton Altamonte
Springs-Orlando (commercial), won awards for Continuous
Improvement.
The properties are judged on eight different attributes,
including financial results, guest satisfaction, brand standards
and employee satisfaction.
"The Hilton Miami Airport has created an environment that is
dedicated to total guest satisfaction," said Rehmat-wala, who is
also area vice president for Hilton.
"In times when the Miami tourism industry emphasizes quality
guest services, we are proud of our contribution to the community,"
he said.
To mark its achievement, the hotel held a celebration this
summer in its International Ballroom.
Two large screens exhibited space-shuttle countdowns and
liftoffs, and the room was decorated to resemble an airplane
cockpit.
Meanwhile, the foyer was decorated as an airport, with a ticket
counter, a money exchange, a newspaper stand, a duty-free store and
a coffee shop.
University of Miami cheerleaders kept energy levels high as
hotel award team members, tourism officials, travel agents and
community leaders joined in the celebration.
Presenting the hotel its award was Stevan Porter, senior vice
president and executive vice president, hotel division, at Hilton
Hotels.
Also on hand was Bill Talbert, president and chief executive
officer of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, who
told the hotel's staff, "You have redefined customer service in
south Florida."
Talbert presented the hotel with an etched-glass trophy.
Stuart Blumberg, president and chief executive officer of the
Greater Miami & the Beaches Hotel Association, also
congratualted the staff.
The Hilton Miami Airport opened in 1984 as an unusual airport
hotel because of its resort trappings.
The property is situated on a private peninsula in the heart of
Blue Lagoon, a 100-acre freshwater lake that sports sail boats and
motorboats.
The 500 rooms include 82 suites.
All rooms are equipped with data ports, two phone lines, voice
mail, egonomically designed desk and chair, mini-bar, coffeemaker,
hair dryer, iron and ironing board and video service.
There is 24-hour room service.
The property also handles meetings, offering 30,000 square feet
of space and a 9,600-square-foot ballroom seating 840 for
banquets.
A business center offers secretarial services, computer rentals,
videoconferencing and office space rental.
Hilton Miami Airport
Phone: (800) 932-3322 or (305) 262-1000