Hospitality Heroes Recognized at IRF’s 2023 Education Invitational

June 28, 2023

Above and Beyond Foundation Hospitality Hero Danny Mueller, Resorts World F&B bites employee, accepts award at IRF Education Invitational. — Above and Beyond Foundation hospitality hero Danny Mueller, Resorts World Las Vegas F&B Bites employee, accepts award at IRF Education Invitational.

Three outstanding front-line staff at Resorts World Las Vegas named Heroes of Hospitality and awarded $5,000 grants from the Above and Beyond Foundation at IRF’s closing reception.

Planners know that front-line hospitality industry staff can make or break a meeting or event. Yet, these essential employees are all too often unrecognized and unrewarded. A charity dedicated to changing that narrative is the Above and Beyond Foundation, whose mission is to “recognize, reward and support outstanding individuals employed on the front lines of the hospitality industry by providing awards and grants to help them attain their personal and professional goals.”

Earlier this month at the IRF Education Invitational, Above and Beyond surprised three Resorts World Las Vegas employees with hefty $5,000 checks for their exceptional service. “As part of The Above and Beyond Foundation’s Heroes for Hospitality program, IRF Education Invitational attendees had the opportunity to nominate Resorts World Las Vegas front-line workers who demonstrated the heart of hospitality through an extraordinary single act of service and/or consistent job performance during the Invitational that was truly ‘above and beyond,’” said an IRF statement.

Resorts World’s Danny Mueller (F&B bites), Xavier Harris (banquets), and Marco Hernandez (utility houseperson) were presented the awards at IRF’s celebratory closing reception, to rousing cheers from the attendees. They all reflect the core values of Above and Beyond: hard working, dedicated, passionate, ethical, customer centric and a team player.

Hospitality Employee Recognition Continues

Above and Beyond embraces diversity, equity and inclusion and fosters recognition of front-line workers in the hospitality industry with a portfolio of awards and grants initiatives. In addition to the $5,000 Heroes of Hospitality Award, the $10,000 Heart of Hospitality award is given to dedicated, hospitality career driven front-line workers who consistently go above and beyond in their job, demonstrate the charity’s core values, are committed to their career and embody the heart of hospitality. The now discontinued $500 Helping Hospitality Grant was launched in 2020 and distributed to more than 1,000 workers laid off due to COVID.

The most recent Hero of Hospitality is Soledad Villalobos, barista/server at The Ritz Carlton, Bachelor’s Gulch, Colorado, who was given his award at SITE’s Midwest Retreat on June 20.