Hotel GM Gelardi Presented with Third Annual Mary Gostelow Award

Legendary luxury hotel general manager, Geoffrey Gelardi, was presented with the 3rd Annual Mary Gostelow Award during the opening ceremony at the International Luxury Travel Mart in Cannes this week.

The award was presented by last year’s honoree, Virtuoso’s CEO Matthew Upchurch. The honor was named for journalist Mary Gostelow, who is also a current Travel Market Report contributor. The award was designed in the shape of a heart, to recognize that businesses, teams, and what they do, are inspired by individuals who have an open heart and an open mind.

In presenting the award to Gelardi, Upchurch said that, in addition to serving as a mentor during a period when many hoteliers were walking away from the travel agency community, Gelardi eschewed the Silicon Valley sirens of the OTAs and remained loyal to advisors; and, in return, advisors delivered by booking clients to his hotel.

Upchurch said that Gelardi’s embrace of the travel agency community epitomizes the open mind, heart and spirit for which the award is given.