Hilton Honors 2024 CEO Light & Warmth Award Recipients for Outstanding Hospitality Leadership

Sixteen team members and one hotel team from around the world receive the hospitality leader’s highest form of team member recognition for their commitment to hospitality and dedication to Hilton’s values

(IN SHORT) Hilton has announced the winners of its 2024 CEO Light & Warmth Award, honoring 16 individuals and one team for their extraordinary contributions to hospitality and dedication to Hilton’s core values. These recipients, chosen from nearly 700 nominations, demonstrated exceptional leadership, service, and community involvement. The awardees include leaders from Hilton properties worldwide, such as Michelle Keck, Stacie Bladen, Toni Colson, Neil Castañeda, Sudhagar Sethuraman, Hong Ma, Denise Beadle, and Sherif Darwish, who exemplify Hilton’s commitment to inclusivity, sustainability, and exceptional guest experiences. This award underscores Hilton’s ongoing investment in its team members and their impact on the company’s success and the broader community.

(PRESS RELEASE) McLEAN, Va., 2025-Jan-14 — /Travel PR News/ — Hilton (NYSE: HLT) has proudly announced the winners of its 2024 CEO Light & Warmth Award, the company’s highest recognition, honoring 16 exceptional individuals and one team for their unwavering dedication to hospitality, innovation, and Hilton’s core values. This prestigious award highlights the outstanding contributions these team members have made to the company, demonstrating extraordinary leadership, teamwork, and commitment to delivering world-class hospitality.

The awardees, selected from nearly 700 nominations, were chosen by a committee led by Christopher J. Nassetta, Hilton’s President and CEO. These individuals and teams have shown remarkable dedication to Hilton’s purpose of filling the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality, bringing Hilton’s values to life through exceptional service, inclusive leadership, and positive community impact.

Christopher J. Nassetta expressed his pride in the recipients, saying, “It’s an honor each year to recognize our CEO Light & Warmth Award winners. These team members set the standard for Hilton hospitality with their outstanding leadership, commitment to our values, and their significant contributions to our business. We celebrate their passion, dedication, and the purpose that fuels our Hilton family every day.”

The winners from Hilton’s Americas region include Michelle Keck of Homewood Suites by Hilton Wilmington-Brandywine Valley, who exemplifies inclusive leadership and mentorship, and Stacie Bladen from Hilton McLean Tysons Corner, whose volunteer work during Hurricane Helene showcased her commitment to community service. Other honorees include Toni Colson, Senior Director, Owner Engagement at Hilton, and Neil Castañeda, Manager at Hilton Lima Miraflores, both of whom demonstrate a passion for service and leadership.

In the Asia Pacific region, recipients include Sudhagar Sethuraman from Hilton Garden Inn Bengaluru Embassy Manyata Business Park, and Hong Ma, Room Attendant at Conrad Shenyang, whose dedication to sustainability and hospitality has greatly impacted their teams and guests.

The Europe, Middle East, and Africa region also celebrated impressive leaders like Denise Beadle, Food & Beverage Supervisor at DoubleTree by Hilton Swindon, known for her warmth and commitment over 25 years, and Sherif Darwish, General Manager of DoubleTree by Hilton Aqaba, for his leadership in sustainability and community outreach.

The 2024 CEO Light & Warmth Award winners represent Hilton’s core values and commitment to providing exceptional guest experiences while making a positive impact on their communities. With more than $1.65 million awarded to over 150 team members since 2011, Hilton continues to invest in its people to drive innovation and deliver unparalleled hospitality.

Here are the winners of the 2024 CEO Light & Warmth Award:

Americas:

1. Michelle Keck, Homewood Suites by Hilton Wilmington-Brandywine Valley
2. Stacie Bladen, Director of Rooms, Hilton McLean Tysons Corner
3. Toni Colson, Senior Director, Owner Engagement, Hilton
4. Neil Castañeda, Manager, Hilton Lima Miraflores
5. Kaitlyn Condon, Group Sales Manager, Hilton Boston Park Plaza
6. Michelle Keck, General Manager, Homewood Suites by Hilton Wilmington-Brandywine Valley
7. Vincenzo (Vinnie) Miliano, Bar Manager, Conrad Los Angeles
8. Daryana Murillo, Assistant General Manager, Hampton Inn Louisville-Northeast

Asia Pacific:

1. Sudhagar Sethuraman, Assistant Director of Sales, Hilton Garden Inn Bengaluru Embassy Manyata Business Park
2. Hong Ma, Room Attendant, Conrad Shenyang
3. Jiajia Wang, F&B Guest Service Agent, Hilton Garden Inn Xi’an Hi-Tech Zone
4. The Cairns Emergency Response Team, Hilton Cairns and DoubleTree by Hilton Cairns

Europe, Middle East, and Africa:

1. Denise Beadle, Food & Beverage Supervisor, DoubleTree by Hilton Swindon
2. Ahmed Abdoun, Chief Concierge, Ramses Hilton
3. Sherif Darwish, General Manager, DoubleTree by Hilton Aqaba
4. Lesley Harkins, Senior Reservation Specialist, Owners Desk, Hilton Reservations & Customer Care
5. Yelzhan Kabiden, Junior Pastry Sous Chef, Hilton Astana
6. Roman Uhlir, Restaurants & Bar Manager, Hilton Prague

About Hilton

Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 24 world-class brands comprising more than 8,300 properties and over 1.25 million rooms, in 138 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its founding vision to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality, Hilton has welcomed over 3 billion guests in its more than 100-year history, was named the No.1 World’s Best Workplace by Great Place to Work and Fortune and has been recognized as a global leader on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for seven consecutive years. Hilton has introduced industry-leading technology enhancements to improve the guest experience, including Digital Key Share, automated complimentary room upgrades and the ability to book confirmed connecting rooms. Through the award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors, the more than 200 million Hilton Honors members who book directly with Hilton can earn Points for hotel stays and experiences money can’t buy. With the free Hilton Honors app, guests can book their stay, select their room, check in, unlock their door with a Digital Key and check out, all from their smartphone. Visit stories.hilton.com for more information, and connect with Hilton on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

Source: Hilton Hotels & Resort

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