14 CALIFORNIA LODGING NEWS www.calodging.com Stars of th Natalie joined Aelius Management Group in 2021 when our company had just acquired the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Dinuba. At the time the property was in a bit of a distressed situation. Natalie, who has lived in Dinuba almost her entire life, applied for the GM position. She was a 30-year hospitality veteran who had taken a leave because of the death of a close friend. But when she came in for her interview with us, her energy was screaming hospitality. Our property at that time had an empty feeling. Since joining the team, she has made the property so inviting where all our guests constantly feel welcomed, appreciated, and taken care of. She has gone out of her way day in and day out to make sure she is meeting the demands. Not only has she shown that effort to our guests, but our staff feel it too. We have received multiple recognitions from IHG on our customer service and cleanliness levels. Natalie has also earned AAA Three Diamond designation. Throughout the year she consistently shows her true hospitality nature by hosting events that the guests can participate in, staff feeling appreciated, and ownership being able to take pride in. We truly feel that she embodies the true meaning of hospitality. Being a proud union member, I have never thought I would nominate a member of management, but John doesn’t act like a typical member of management. During the pandemic, John made himself available to all the laid off members to assist them with applying for and securing our unemployment payments and helping us get through the mess that was the EDD. He continues to help members with problems with the EDD. After the hotel reopened, he worked hard to welcome us back and did more than any other HR director in the city to educate us on Covid Safety Protocols. And since then, he has volunteered to lead free training sessions on the new Responsible Beverage Server law open to any server or bartender in the city of San Francisco. He has helped over 200 people outside of the Hilton and Parc 55 continue to work without interruption and benefits every hotel in San Francisco who use extra servers and bartenders from the union hiring hall. John is someone we in the union refer to as a “brother”. This is a rare honor ever given to a member of management from a union, but he has earned it. Outstanding Manager of the Year, Small Property Natalie Salinas, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Outstanding Manager of the Year, Large Property John Bernier, Hilton San Francisco and Parc 55 San Francisco
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