Savannah native Leonard Massey didn’t just climb the career ladder, he conquered it, ascending from dishwasher at the former Mulberry Inn to general manager at The Hampton Inn over the course of a 13-year career in the hospitality industry, a career he started in high school.
The 29-year-old’s impressive career trajectory and dedication to the hospitality industry were recognized Wednesday night when Massey was given the prestigious I AM TOURISM Award at the Tourism Leadership Council’s 16th Annual Tourism Awards at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center.
Click here to view a photo slideshow from the awards ceremony.
“I just believe if you’re with the right company and you have the right work ethic, you will be able to succeed,” said Massey.
Within two months of being hired as a dishwasher, Massey was promoted to banquet server – then from banquet server to valet to bellman to night manager to, eventually, general manager.
“My company, Prince-Bush Hotels, we have a lot of people who started out as lower level employees who were promoted to managers,” said Massey. “Even my boss, Mark Dana, started out as a bellman and now he’s the senior vice president of our company.”
Massey’s story mirrored others in attendance Wednesday; about 350 people gathered for the black-tie event celebrating individual tourism workers and industry advocates. The Tourism Awards seek to recognize the roughly 23,000 tourism industry workers here who fuel one of Savannah’s largest economic engines.
With 12 million visitors and $2 billion in revenue, tourism relies on the strength of its tour operators, front-desk greeters, housekeepers, servers, valets, general managers and, yes, even carriage horses.
“We get letters and emails everyday telling us how beautiful our city is and how well they were treated while they visited,” said Visit Savannah’s Joseph Marinelli, one of the evening’s host.
Marquelle Jones, a 21-year-old host and greeter at the Old Pink House, was one of two recipients of the Service Star Award.
“I try to make sure that I make everyone’s day, I think that’s the reason God gave me dimples and I always say that,” said Jones with his signature smile.
“I think working at the Pink House really gets you ready for the real world, because you meet so many people there,” he added. “Whenever they come there and spend their hard-earned money, you have to give them service.”
He shared the award with Nick Webb, a server at Paula Deen’s Lady & Sons. In a surprise appearance, Paula Deen and her husband attended the event in support of Webb. Host Jesse Blanco led the room in a standing ovation at the beginning of the event for Deen, who recently announced several new business ventures.
Others honored at the event included businessman Charles Morris and City Manager Stephanie Cutter.
Cutter, in a brief speech, emphasized the importance of building partnerships between the city and tourism industry.
“We are here to serve the people (and) as we serve the people, I do realize how important it is to build community relationships. …Savannah, we’re going to do great things,” said Cutter.
Other recipients:
Service Leader Award went to Jamie Parks, regional food director of food and beverage at Savor.
Service Star Award was a tie between Nick Webb, a server at Lady & Sons, and Marquelle Jones, a host and greeter at the Old Pink House.
TLC Member of the Year Award went to Diane Rousakis of United Distributor for her work on the Savannah Food & Wine Festival.
Herb & Franklin Traub Visionary Award went to local businessman Charles Morris for the Charles H. Morris Center at Trustees’ Garden, a cultural center for the community.
John P. Rousakis Community Champion Award went to Stephanie Cutter, city manager of Savannah, for advocating for the tourism industry and starting the city of Savannah’s tourism office.
In addition to the main awards, several scholarships were announced. Kelli Brunson, Andrew Lawrence and Randi Parton, all hospitality management majors from the University of South Carolina-Beaufort, were given $1,000. Pulkit Chawla, a culinary arts student at Savannah Technical College, received $2,000.