[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 160 (Tuesday, November 12, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1625]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        IN HONOR OF THE MONTEREY COUNTY HOSPITALITY ASSOCIATION

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 12, 2013

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Monterey County 
Hospitality Association on the occasion of its 25th annual hospitality 
employee recognition celebration. This is a truly remarkable event that 
recognizes just a few of the unsung heroes of America's number one 
industry.
   As the co-chair of the congressional travel and tourism caucus, I 
frequently see the travel and tourism industry in terms of its big 
economics--generating $2 trillion in revenues and supporting 14.6 
million jobs. And indeed, it is crucial that national policy works to 
help travel and tourism thrive and benefit all of our communities.
   But beneath these statistics are the people who work in the hotels, 
restaurants, rental car companies, and all the other myriad of visitor 
serving businesses. These men and women shape a visitor's experience 
and help them decide whether to return to the United States, to 
California, or to Monterey County. The place sells the first visit, but 
it's the hospitality employees that keep people coming back.
   And that is why the Monterey County Hospitality Association event is 
so remarkable. I know of no other event of its size and scope where the 
regional travel and tourism industry comes together in such a 
comprehensive way to celebrate the extraordinary lengths that its 
employees go to make the visitor experience to the Monterey region the 
memory of a lifetime.
   Each year colleagues nominate their co-workers for customer service 
that went above and beyond the ordinary call of duty--the maid who 
searched through the dumpster for a new bride's lost wedding ring, or a 
chef who recreated the menu from a couple's first date for their 50th 
wedding anniversary. From all of these nominees, a selection panel 
picks ten to receive an ``Excellence in Hospitality'' award.
   The panel also singles out one of the awardees for special 
recognition for service that sets the gold standard. In 1988, this 
special award was given to Romuldo ``Papa Vince'' Vicente, the renowned 
bar tender at Monterey's legendary Sardine Factory restaurant. And 
while the Sardine Factory's founders Ted Balestreri and Bert Cutino 
receive much of the public recognition for the Sardine Factory's 
success and the Monterey Bay hospitality renaissance that it helped 
spark, they will be the first to recognize that it was Papa Vince and 
employees like him that built the foundation of that success. So it is 
fitting that this top trophy has since been known as the Papa Vince 
award. It's people like Mr. Vicente who make the U.S. travel and 
tourism industry such a vital part of our national life and economy.
   Mr. Speaker, I know I speak for the whole House in commending the 
Monterey County Hospitality Association on the occasion of this 
significant anniversary as well as extending our congratulations to the 
past, current, and future ``Excellence in Hospitality'' award winners.

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