(2/1) Sleep Inn Hotel manager Pat Larson
was recently awarded hotelier of the year at the 18th annual “Stars of the
Industry” banquet hosted by the Maryland Hotel and Lodging Association.
Larson first got involved in the hotel
industry while attending the University of Maryland working toward a degree in
Personnel Management. He attended classes during the day and then worked
through the night at a local hotel to pay for school. “That’s what got me
through the last couple years of college,” said Larson.
He has managed the Sleep Inn for the past
five years. In 2005 the hotel was nationally recognized as “Inn of the Year” by
Choice Hotels International. “That (award) is based not on sales, but guest
satisfaction,” Larson noted.
According Hess Hotels Group Director of
Quality Assurance Alan Doran, “Larson was nominated for his work ethic and
efforts at the hotel,” but he attributes the honor to the people that work for
him.
“The award had my name on it, but it was
really a reflection of collectively what the staff had done,” said Larson.
Last year one of Larson’s staff members
suffered a heart attack while working at the hotel. “His heart stopped beating
in the lobby,” Larson recalls. “Fortunately at that time all the staff had CPR
training. We went and started (CPR) right away.”
With the help of a firefighter who was
staying at the hotel, the staff was able to resuscitate the employee, who still
works at the hotel today.
For the past two years Larson has been
president of the Emmitsburg Professional Business Association. He also coaches
women’s volleyball in Westminster and represents the hotel in the Taneytown
Chamber of Commerce. Larson is a resident of Westminster and plans to continue
working in Emmitsburg for a long time.
