Shell Hospitality Selects Top Resort Management Team

by Marge Lennon
Owner
Lennon Communications Group

Shell Hospitality, Inc. recently named the winner of its annual competition for the top management team within the company.
The Legacy Golf Resort, of Phoenix, Arizona, under the leadership of Michele A. Caminidi, General Manager, was awarded Shell Hospitality's Management Team Appreciation Award. This is the most prestigious recognition possible for any of the management teams at the 22 properties managed by Shell Hospitality.

According to Susan C. Kelley, CHA and Senior Vice President of Shell Hospitality, “In making this important annual selection, we review many measurable criterion. They include internal comment card scores, exchange company ratings, results from employee surveys, and compliance with our internal Shell Hospitality standards that define our motto of ‘Managing to Make a Difference’. Also considered are areas of improvement that have occurred during the year and the resort’s year-end financial results. The Legacy Resort had an exemplary 2005 and far exceeded our expectations in all areas. We applaud their entire team. The Legacy has been a RCI Gold Crown resort since its opening for the past six consecutive years, recently receiving the same award for 2006.”

Caminidi, who has been with The Legacy Golf Resort for the past six and a half years, supervises a team of about 200 full and part-time resort personnel. A hospitality professional with over two decades of experience in Arizona, she is thrilled that her management team was chosen for this award. A member of the Arizona Hotel & Lodging Association and the Valley Hotel & Resort Association for 15 years she has served on its Board for 5 years. Caminidi’s prior resort experience includes eight consecutive Fiesta Bowl events and the 1996 Super Bowl – highly challenging for any resort manager. The Legacy also hosted the LPGA Standard Register Ping Tournament in 2000.

Says Caminidi, “It is wonderful to be recognized with this award. I am blessed to be surrounded by such a dedicated and talented management team and employees, and to work for a caring supportive company that allows us the flexibility to do our jobs as we see necessary, backing us with the appropriate support when needed.”
In addition to Caminidi, the top management team includes Bruce Hamm, Assistant General Manager; Chuck Bentley, Director of Engineering and Landscaping; Steve Norris, Director of Safety and Security; Carmen Garcia, Human Resources Manager and Dwight Wintringer, Director of Food & Beverage. Other senior staffers include Joe Gaffney, Director of Golf; Denise Heintz, Director of Sales, Daniel Rodas, Guest Services Manager, Kristina Brooks, Reservations Manager; Alonso Lopez, Director of Housekeeping, Gui DeFaria, Revenue Manager, Greg Bethea, Accounting Manager; Valerie Ortiz, Health & Recreation Manager and Abel Delgado, Golf Superintendent.

Developed by Shell Vacations and managed by Shell Hospitality Inc, the 280-acre Legacy Golf Resort is home to 328 spacious suites. Opened in 1999, the resort is surrounded by an 18-hole championship golf course, meeting rooms, restaurant and lounge and an oasis of recreational amenities. Each of the one- and two-bedroom condominiums has a private patio or balcony with scenic views of the surrounding mountains or lushly landscaped courtyards. The resort’s championship golf course, designed by Phoenix-based course architect Gary Panks, is the focal point of the community. The Legacy was the site of the 2000 LPGA Standard Register PING tournament.

Supported by more than 1,600 hospitality professionals and consistently rated in the nation’s Top 50 Management companies, Shell Hospitality is the management arm for Shell Vacations and handles resort management responsibilities for Shell Vacations Club Resorts and non-Club properties. The company has been recognized in the resort and hotel industry as a premier hospitality organization.