Each nominee for the Hospitality Service Award of Distinction is an individual front-line customer service staff member who consistently provides exceptional service to visitors to Dutchess County to help them have an outstanding experience. Join Destination Dutchess in celebrating all the honorees at the 13th annual Tourism Awards of Distinction on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, at The Henry A. Wallace Center at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Home in Hyde Park.
Read on to learn more about each Hospitality Service Award of Distinction finalist.
• Judy Dalessandro, Director of Sales, Hyatt House Fishkill
• Barry Frommer, Director of Operations, Roundhouse Hotel, Beacon
• Marie Stewart, Director of Operations, Stissing Center, Pine Plains
• Judy Dalessandro, Director of Sales, Hyatt House Fishkill: What inspires me most about my job in sales is the people. I love having the opportunity to meet new and unique people from all different industries, backgrounds, and walks of life. Every conversation is different, and I genuinely enjoy building those relationships and learning about what brings people to our area.
For me, sales is much more than selling hotel rooms. It’s about making connections, creating relationships, helping people, and being an ambassador for both our hotel and our community.
• Barry Frommer, Director of Operations, Roundhouse Hotel, Beacon: From the people I work with, to the guests I’ve met over the past 50 years in this business, have enabled me to grow and become the professional I am, and inspire me to continue to grow in the hospitality field.
• Marie Stewart, Director of Operations, Stissing Center, Pine Plains: My business inspires me because it's located in a very rural community so we are able to provide a service that otherwise would not be available without travelling 30 minutes or more. Performing arts are not only a means of entertainment, but they allow for people to come together in person to share live music, theater, film or dance. We also offer a wide array of programming for all ages.
• Judy Dalessandro, Director of Sales, Hyatt House Fishkill: My hope for the future of travel in Dutchess County is that we continue to grow as a destination while never losing what makes our area so special. We have so much to offer- incredible history, beautiful scenery, amazing restaurants, farms, wineries, arts and culture, and wonderful small businesses. I would love to see more visitors not only come to Dutchess County, but stay longer and really explore all that we have to offer. The more we can educate our visitors and connect them with our local businesses and attractions, the greater the impact tourism can have on our entire community.
Most of all, I hope we continue working together as a tourism community to make Dutchess County a place people visit once, fall in love with, and want to return to again and again.
• Barry Frommer, Director of Operations, Roundhouse Hotel, Beacon: I hope that Dutchess County will continue to grow as a tourism destination. Over the years we've seen an expansion not only in the number of visitors, but in the diversity of travelers coming from NYC, across the country, and internationally. It's a great opportunity to showcase everything the Hudson Valley has to offer, and introduce new people to The Roundhouse. As a family-owned business, we try to partner with as many local businesses as possible, and travelers to the area help support those initiatives.
• Marie Stewart, Director of Operations, Stissing Center, Pine Plains: I hope that Destination Dutchess is able to continue their amazing work highlighting and supporting all the tourist destinations that make Dutchess County so special. Since our county is growing exponentially, my hope is that the county, along with the state, continues to invest in the infrastructure used daily to navigate the county and all it has to offer. All of our wonderful tourist destinations are pointless without sufficient and safe access to them. We've come to rely on those tourism dollars in our communities.
• Judy Dalessandro, Director of Sales, Hyatt House Fishkill: The most important lesson I’ve learned in my career in sales is that relationships always come first. People want to do business with someone they trust, someone who listens to them and genuinely cares about their needs.
I’ve also learned that sales isn’t always about making the sale today. Sometimes it’s about planting a seed, staying connected, and being there when the opportunity comes along. Some of my strongest business relationships have been built over many years.
Most importantly, always be yourself. Be honest, follow through on what you promise, treat every customer as important, and never underestimate the value of a personal connection. Rates and hotels may change, but the relationships you build can last an entire career.
• Barry Frommer, Director of Operations, Roundhouse Hotel, Beacon: As the saying goes “no man’s an island,” the people around you will help define your success. Everyone from the dishwasher to the assistant director has to be a part of the process in order to achieve success, I’m just a conductor.
• Marie Stewart, Director of Operations, Stissing Center, Pine Plains: The most important thing I've learned in my career is adaptability - if you can adjust to situations, and continue to learn new skills, you are invaluable to your organization. Strong customer service skills make communications more relevant. Building and maintaining intentional relationships with patrons, vendors and co-workers contributes to a satisfying community.
• Judy Dalessandro, Director of Sales, Hyatt House Fishkill: My advice to someone entering the tourism industry would be to be curious, get involved, and take the time to really know your community. Tourism is all about people and relationships, so meet as many people as you can, ask questions, listen, and learn from everyone around you. Most importantly, never lose sight of hospitality. Be kind, be authentic, follow through, and make people feel valued. You never know where one conversation or connection may lead, and some of the relationships you build can stay with you throughout your entire career.
• Barry Frommer, Director of Operations, Roundhouse Hotel, Beacon: As a young person entering this business, look at the people around you that inspire you, and take something from every one of them with you on your professional journey.
• Marie Stewart, Director of Operations, Stissing Center, Pine Plains: For anyone interested in the tourism industry, I would recommend, narrowing your focus. Tourism encompasses many facets so identify where your interests and skills align so you are more marketable. If you are not sure where your interests lie, talk to people who work in a particular area (performing arts, hotels, ecotourism, etc.) and ask what they like specifically about their career. Networking is also important - you never know how a contact may factor into your journey in the industry.
