Graham Companies has two 2019 Inn Key Award winners

Since 1995, The Greater Miami & The Beaches Hotel Association has hosted an annual tribute to all hotel employees, the Inn Key Awards. There are over 950 hospitality, corporate and government leaders that join hoteliers and their management teams to celebrate their hourly hotel employees which are the “heart” of the tourism industry.
This year there were over 357 nominees recognized in 13 categories broken down between hotels that are over/under 200 rooms ranging from Bellmen and Housekeepers to Culinary and Engineering personnel.
At Graham Hospitality, a division of The Graham Companies, there have been many past nominees that have won in different categories. The most recent winner was Dave Gergely from Shula’s Golf Club who won the 2018 Lodging Employee of the Year, the top category for a nominee to win.
The award luncheon was held on May 3 at the Hilton Downtown and once again Graham Hospitality had winners from their nominated group including Sergio Bacallao (Miami Lakes Hotel and Golf) Front Desk Employee of the Year, and Joham Beauvais (Shula’s Hotel and Golf Club) Culinary/Kitchen Employee of the Year.
Bacallao has been at Miami Lakes Hotel and Golf for over a year and was recently nominated as MVP for the first quarter of the year in Graham Hospitality. He has quickly earned the respect of customers as well as fellow employee and listed consistently in all of the positive reviews for the hotel on Trip Advisor.
Bacallao claims that life has taught him to always be the best version of yourself and never give up and he has proven to the industry just that.
Beauvais started his culinary career in 1981 and later earned his Associates in Science degree in Culinary Arts. He began working at Shula’s Steak 2 and has been there for 15 years.
While passionate for cooking, he also is a Deacon at his church for over 21 years and is president of the Men’s Ministry there as well. He understands the importance of continuing his education and giving back. For being in a position typically considered behind the scenes he has proven to be a standout star.
Other Graham Hospitality nominees for 2019 included:
• Lodging Employee of the Year, Elizabeth Urresti (Shula’s Hotel and Golf Club)
• Front Office Employee of the Year, Andrew McCalla (Shula’s Hotel and Golf Club)
• Engineering Employee of the Year, Michael McCoy (Shula’s Hotel and Golf Club)
• Roomkeeper of the Year, Marvel Jackson (Shula’s Hotel and Golf Club)
• Food & Beverage Employee of the Year, Efrain Ortega (Shula’s Hotel and Golf Club)
• Recreation Employee of the Year, Virnalis Arvelo (Shula’s Athletic Club)
• Administrative Employee of the Year, Eva Fernandez-Miranda (Shula’s Hotel and Golf Club).