Honoring Oklahoma’s Lodging Industry Heroes at the Omni Hotel OKC

Oklahoma City, OK – January 21, 2025 – The Oklahoma Hotel & Lodging Association (OHLA) proudly hosted its highly anticipated Annual Lodging Summit on January 21, 2025, at the Omni Hotel OKC. This premier event brought together lodging operators from across the state of Oklahoma for a day of networking, industry insights, and celebration of excellence within the hospitality sector.

As OHLA’s most exciting event of the year, the Lodging Summit provided lodging professionals with the opportunity to connect with colleagues and industry leaders, gain valuable knowledge, and foster partnerships that contribute to their continued success. The day included several key highlights:

The Annual Membership & Board of Directors Meeting featured the election of OHLA’s new Board of Directors and included a special address by Oklahoma Labor Commissioner Leslie Osborn, who shared insights on workforce issues impacting the hospitality industry.

The OHLA Vendor Expo provided attendees with a chance to engage with top providers of products and services essential to running a successful lodging operation. It was a unique opportunity to discover new tools, resources, and innovations for the industry.

The 2nd Annual Heart for Hospitality Celebration was a significant highlight of the day, where the unsung heroes of Oklahoma’s lodging industry were honored for their exceptional contributions. The celebration featured a keynote address from Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell, who recognized the outstanding achievements of those who have made a significant impact on Oklahoma's thriving hospitality sector.

During the Heart for Hospitality Awards, individuals and teams who demonstrated exceptional dedication and service in the lodging industry were recognized for their contributions to the growth and development of Oklahoma's hospitality community.

This year, Mackenzie Plank of The Skirvin Hilton Hotel was honored with the Outstanding Lodging Employee Award, recognizing her unwavering dedication and exceptional service. Additionally, Blane Thompson of the Ellison Hotel received the Excellence in Leadership Award, acknowledging his outstanding leadership and vision in shaping the future of the industry. Both awards reflected the highest standards of excellence, and it was an honor to recognize them among their peers.

We also congratulated Micha Krodel of Cory's A/V, who received the OHLA Outstanding Volunteer Award for her tireless efforts and dedication to supporting the OHLA community. Micha’s invaluable contributions have been pivotal to the association’s success, and her volunteerism has greatly enriched the lodging industry in Oklahoma.

In addition, we were proud to celebrate our three scholarship recipients who will represent Oklahoma at Hotels on the Hill in Washington, D.C.:

Brandi Thomas of Hilton Garden Inn Lawton Ft. Sill, who won her scholarship from OKWIL.
Michael Grisar of Choctaw Resorts, who received his scholarship from the OHLA.
Dena Jones of Champion Hotels, who also won a scholarship from the OHLA.

These exceptional professionals will have the opportunity to advocate for Oklahoma's lodging industry on a national stage, and we wish them great success as they represent our state in Washington, D.C.

Finally, we were excited to announce Hilton Garden Inn Lawton Ft. Sill as the recipient of the $1,000 prize, recognizing their outstanding contributions to the success of the Lodging Summit.

James Leewright, CEO of the Oklahoma Hotel & Lodging Association, emphasized the significance of the event: "The Lodging Summit was not only a celebration of Oklahoma’s vibrant lodging industry, but also a platform for collaboration and growth. It was an opportunity to recognize the individuals and teams whose hard work and commitment shape the success of our industry. We were thrilled to bring our community together for another year of innovation, networking, and recognition."

As we conclude this memorable celebration, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our incredible partners for their unwavering support. A special thank you to our Exclusive Presenting of Distinguished Awards partner, Visit Oklahoma City, and our Exclusive Commemorative Honoree Gift sponsor, Ecolab. We also appreciate the generosity of our Heart for Hospitality Partner, 110 Events, and the dedication of Burggraf Disaster Restoration, Clearwater Enterprises, Integrated Payment Systems, McGregor Insurance Group, Omni Hotels & Resorts Oklahoma City, Partners In Hospitality, Precision Linen by Spark Hospitality, Shake Rattle & Roll Audio-Visual, and Versacor Managed Pest Solutions. Last but certainly not least, we are grateful to our Grand Finale Partner, Auto-Chlor System, for their essential role in making this event a resounding success.

Together, these outstanding partners helped bring this event to life, exemplifying the spirit of collaboration and excellence. Thank you for your continued support and commitment to our community and industry. We look forward to future opportunities to work together and celebrate excellence once again.

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Incorporated in 1974, the Oklahoma Hotel & Lodging Association is Oklahoma's trade association for the hotel and lodging industry. The OHLA actively provides pro-active advocacy, education and resources for operators and professionals in all types of lodging businesses throughout the state of Oklahoma. Hotel guest spending in our state equals $5.5 billion, and over 78,000 guest rooms exist in Oklahoma. The OHLA is a state partner of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA).