Best Western Housekeeper Shines, Wins $5,000

Miriam Rodriguez Alvarez, a housekeeper at Best Western Plus Villa Del Lago Inn in Patterson, CA is the 2021 grand-prize winner in the Cintas S.H.I.N.E. (Star Housekeepers In a New Era) Award. Alvarez won the $5,000 cash prize and her property will receive a comprehensive product, training, and consultation package from Cintas and its business partners.

Housekeeper“We received inspiring nominations about hardworking housekeepers from hotels across the country, many of whom were the only ones available to clean for much of the pandemic due to furloughs and layoffs,” said Nicole Beall, Cintas Senior Director – Hospitality & Gaming Enterprise. “These employees not only rose to the challenge of maintaining new standards of cleanliness, but did so with smiles on their faces and ongoing enthusiasm for their important jobs.”

According to her manager, Miriam “has changed the housekeeping department for the better.”

In her nomination, her hotel’s management also noted that Miriam strives for perfection in cleanliness, and although she is deaf, she does not allow it to be an obstacle. She always has a positive attitude and frequently goes the extra mile to communicate with, and show appreciation for, hotel guests. They noted that she helps lift employee morale and has been instrumental in upholding cleanliness for the property during the pandemic.

The Best Western Plus Villa Del Lago Inn will also receive:

The nine runners-up, who each receive a $500 cash prize, and additional prizes for their property, are:

  • Angel Alsina at Hilton Garden Inn in Fort Myers, FL
  • Calandra Sampson at Days Hotel Flagstaff in Flagstaff, AZ
  • Cathy Rogers at Best Western Plus Morristown Inn in Morristown, NJ
  • Jaime Meraz at Viceroy Snowmass in Snowmass Village, CO
  • Lorena Perales at Airlie in Warrenton, VA
  • Makinson Sido at Pelican Grand Beach Resort in Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • Marie Rousseau at Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort in Hollywood, FL
  • Shirley Chen at Argonaut Hotel in San Francisco
  • Yen Nguyen at Motif Seattle, a Destination by Hyatt Hotel in Seattle

The grand-prize winner and the nine runners-up were selected by a panel of judges that included hospitality expert and television and podcast host Anthony Melchiorri, and representatives from Cintas, IEHA, GBAC, and Rubbermaid Commercial Products.

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