UMass Amherst Hospitality and Tourism Management to Hold Awards Dinner in Boston on March 30

The University of Massachusetts Amherst Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) in the Isenberg School of Management will hold its annual awards dinner in Boston on Thursday, March 30. Geoff Ballotti, president of Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, will receive the Distinguished Industry Leader Award and UMass Amherst alumnus Bob Epstein ’67, CEO of Horizon Beverage, will be honored for Lifetime Achievement.

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The event will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Boston Park Plaza in the Back Bay and will be attended by prominent industry leaders, HTM alumni and friends. Award presentations will also be made to John Koshivos ’84, vice president and managing director of development for the SE Region for Hilton (Stephen Elmont recipient); and Laura Kisty Butler ’14, director of rooms for Canopy by Hilton Boston (Outstanding Young Alumni).

Special recognition will be given to Rod Warnick, who has worked at UMass Amherst since 1983: first teaching in the recreation resource management and regional planning programs in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning and later in HTM, where he refined the global hospitality leadership course. Warnick has received the Isenberg Teaching Award twice, the Rick and Nancy Kelleher Student Service Award three times, and has been nominated for numerous other teaching awards.

The Stephen E. Elmont Alumni of the Year Scholarships will be presented to Sarah Licciardi ’22 and Henry Eustis ’25.

Event tickets are available until March 23 at https://www.isenberg.umass.edu/calendar/2023-htm-annual-awards-dinner