UH HILTON RESTAURANT MANAGER WINS SPIRIT OF HILTON AWARD

University of Houston Hilton Restaurant Manager Juirl Benjamin received the Spirit of Hilton award on Friday, Feb. 18, 2011. The Spirit of Hilton award is one of the most prestigious awards given out by the company to staff members.

Benjamin won the award thanks in large part to a letter from a Hilton Honors member that showcased his outstanding customer service.

�I had a button torn and lost from my suit jacket but I had meetings in three cities over the next 2-3 days and needed it repaired,� read the letter. �During lunch, I asked the waitress if there was [a repair shop] on campus so I would not need to travel far and wait. She said she didn't think so. She came back with Mr. Benjamin who offered to help; he was professional and ingratiating in a customer-focused manner. He returned the suit jacket fully repaired. The waitress informed me that he used a button from his own suit jacket (not a spare) and did the work himself -- he did not mention this to us until I asked him to confirm it afterwards. In 20 years of travel, with my employees in places like UK, Germany, San Fran, Chicago and running a national sales force with a global P+L (elite member of multiple airlines) requiring intense national and global travel, I never received that level of service. Mr. Juirl Benjamin is the kind of employee who will change someone's perception of a hotel chain permanently. He deserves all the kudos, promotion opportunities and incentives that Hilton offers to its employees.�

During the award ceremony on Friday the president of Hilton North America called to personally thank Benjamin. Benjamin also received a plaque, certificate and $350 reward for his service.

We at UH Dining Services would also like to publicly thank Juirl Benjamin for his continued dedication and service as the Hilton Restaurant Manager.

For more information about UH Dining Services, visit www.uh.edu/dining.