The arrival of December brings with it a feeling of anticipation. For many of us, it marks the successful completion of another year and an opportunity to relax with family and friends while enjoying the festive season.
Certainly, free time is a luxury in the hospitality industry, but the holidays should be a respite from the increasingly frenetic and hectic world in which we live, and the madness we endure for many of the 365 days of the year — especially during these tumultuous times.
For the past 23 years, Foodservice and Hospitality has celebrated the season with our own festivities — the Pinnacle Awards. Just as the industry primes itself for one of its busiest periods, Kostuch Media invites industry executives to a celebratory lunch at Toronto’s Royal York Hotel to shine the spotlight on excellence.
What began as one award presented to the Man of the Year in 1989 — George Cohon, president of McDonald’s Restaurants, was our first recipient — has grown to encompass six awards handed out on behalf of Foodservice and Hospitality and four on behalf of our sister publication, Hotelier. Together, the magazines celebrate the people and the companies that make this industry vibrant, dynamic and successful.
Though we have lived through several challenging years, one unwavering constant is the ability to persevere and thrive in an industry that never sleeps and is home to people who are fuelled by passion and spirit. It’s those individuals and companies we salute every December. Their stories, reflected in our publications and on our websites, demonstrate the true power of passion. Clearly, it’s a common theme running through each of the profiles featured in this special edition. And, whether it’s passion for food, systems, people or excellence, our finest are committed to making customers happy. So, we salute them, and we thank them for all they do.
Similarly, as the year winds down, I’d like to shine the spotlight of excellence on our hardworking and passionate Kostuch Media team. Through 12 editions of F&H, eight editions of Hotelier, three websites and countless other special projects, our team rises to the varied and evolving challenges of the publishing world, punctuated by countless daily deadlines. And, if producing such content in a increasingly fast-paced world isn’t challenging enough, this year, we went one step further, rebranding ourselves Kostuch Media Ltd., to reflect the myriad and evolving changes highlighted in today’s publishing world. We hope our readers and advertisers enjoy the fruits of our labour.
On behalf of the Kostuch Media team and our president, Mitch Kostuch, we wish readers and advertisers alike a wonderful festive season marked by good health, happiness and, as always, a touch of magic.
Rosanna Caira
Editor/Publisher
December 2011 Feature Articles
Checking In: Discussing Hotel Development in Canada
People Pleasers: IHG Aims to Please as Pinnacles 2011 Company of the Year
Boutique Barons: Groupe Germaine, Pinnacles 2011 Regional Company of the Year
Profiling Hotelier Paul Verciglio, 2011 Pinnacles Hotelier of the Year
Dynamic Duo: Profiling the Schwarz Brothers of Post Hotel as Pinnacles 2011 Hoteliers of the Year
Trusted Advisors: Profiling PKF Consulting – Pinnacles 2011 Supplier of the Year
Passion Points: How to Attract Like-Minded Guests
Pinching Pennies: How Hoteliers Stretching Their Purchasing Dollars
Between the Sheets: Creative and Cost-Saving Ways to Decorate with Textiles
Equipped for Success: How to Make a Hotel Kitchen Hum
