By the time this copy of the magazine lands in your hands, December will have arrived, and with it a flurry of holiday activity.
For the team at KML, the Pinnacle Awards luncheon and celebration always caps off a pulsating year of activity. And, for me personally, it’s always a highlight and a pleasure when I can pick up the phone to let the winners know they’ve been chosen to receive a Pinnacle Award. The reactions run the gamut from stunned silence to unrestrained enthusiasm and excitement.
It’s equally gratifying to look back on our circle of achievers over the course of 27 years to see that all of the individuals and companies that we have fêted have gone on to great success and accomplishments. And, as reported by many of them, the Pinnacle Awards mark a watershed moment.
Somehow it’s fitting that we present our Pinnacle Awards during the holiday season, when many of us are focused on giving to others. For the recipients, the awards are a validation of their hard work, perseverance, dedication and commitment to succeed.
But apart from recognizing business acumen and all that is associated with it, let’s not lose sight of the wonderful efforts made by these stellar companies to give back to the community, which has always been a core tenet of the companies and individuals we choose to honour. Perhaps no other industry can lay claim to having a bigger heart than the hospitality industry, where charity is measured not just through a financial commitment but also by countless donated hours, products and services.
Looking at this year’s winners, it’s hard not to be inspired by the generosity of these companies. As a sponsor of the Children’s Miracle Network, Marriott Hotels of Canada has contributed more than $4.3 million to children’s hospitals across North America, while the Easton’s Group of Hotels funds eye camps in India and entrepreneur circles in Canada. Other acts of generosity are happening at the property level, where Houston Construction Ltd. is busily installing Automated External Defibrillator (AED) units at many properties, and Fairmont Le Château Frontenac GM Robert Mercure is part of a team that’s turned a 400-year-old monastery in Quebec City into a one-of-a-kind therapeutic sanctuary. Certainly, their efforts to help others make a lasting contribution to the betterment of our community, our industry and our country, and impact countless lives in many astounding ways. We raise a glass to these individuals and companies.
In the spirit of the season, on behalf of the entire KML team, we wish our readers and advertisers alike a holiday season full of good health, happiness and, always, a touch of magic!
