Local Hotelier Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:    
Betsie Gambel
504.324.4242 | betsie@gambelpr.com

Local Hotelier Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
Andrea Thornton of Hotel Monteleone honored by Historic Hotels of America

New Orleans (January 18, 2013) - Following her recent retirement from Hotel Monteleone as Director of Sales and Marketing, Andrea Thornton was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from Historic Hotels of America at the 22^rd annual Historic Hotels Awards. Her 35 years in the hospitality industry were marked by building partnerships and promoting the hotel through social media, public relations and building an aggressive sales team.

Thornton, representing Hotel Monteleone, was the only Louisiana winner among the 53 honorees at the awards ceremony. The Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest honor given to a hotelier who has continuously shown exceptional guest service, is a leader in his/her industry and who instills a passion in others for historic hotel preservation.

"We are proud to have had Andrea as a member of our team, and believe she is fully deserving of this award," said Ronald Pincus, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Hotel Monteleone. "Her commitment to Hotel Monteleone, her savvy marketing skills and boundless energy helped tremendously to raise the awareness of the hotel and contribute greatly to our success. This award is a wonderful recognition of her lifetime of service."

In her role as Director of Sales and Marketing, Thornton oversaw the sales, reservations, catering and conference service departments of Hotel Monteleone. She was also the driving force in the historic hotel's 125^th anniversary celebrations. Since retiring, Thornton is still a regular to the hotel, but now she has the luxury of swirling the Carousel Bar as a beloved patron.

To find out more about the Historic Hotels of America Annual Awards visit www.historichotels.org/about-historic-hotels/awards.php.

For more information on the award winning service offered at Hotel Monteleone and to make reservations, please visit  http://hotelmonteleone.com/ or call (504) 523-3341. Become a fan at facebook.com/TheHotelMonteleone and follow the Hotel Monteleone on Twitter @hotelmonteleone.

About The Hotel Monteleone
Since 1886, the Hotel Monteleone, http://www.hotelmonteleone.com/, has proudly stood as one of the first landmarks in the famous French Quarter. The hotel is the Quarter's largest full-service hotel, featuring 600 comfortable, luxurious guestrooms and suites. Hotel Monteleone is within walking-distance of some of New Orleans most famous attractions and is conveniently located 11 miles from the Louis Armstrong International Airport. Hotel Monteleone is a member of the Preferred Hotels® & Resorts, a consecutive AAA Four Diamond award-winner, and has won the J.D. Power and Associates Upscale Hotel Award for "An Outstanding Guest Experience." The Hotel Monteleone celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2011.

###