In the News - June 2026
Member Spotlight
Able Construction Group
Able Construction Group, Inc. is a veteran-owned General Contractor specializing in hospitality, commercial, and restoration services throughout Florida and the Southeast. For more than 15 years, we have partnered with hotel owners, operators, management companies, and commercial property stakeholders to deliver high-quality renovations, restoration solutions, and construction management services with minimal disruption to guests, staff, and daily operations.
Our expertise includes interior and exterior renovations, guestroom and common area upgrades, amenity enhancements, pool renovations, restoration and mitigation services, due diligence assessments, and construction management. Whether refreshing a property, executing a large-scale capital improvement project, or evaluating assets during acquisition, our team provides practical solutions designed to protect investments and maximize long-term value.
What sets Able Construction Group apart is our commitment to integrity, responsiveness, and follow-through. Our experienced team understands the importance of schedules, budgets, guest experience, and operational continuity. Through proactive communication and hands-on project management, we work closely with our clients to ensure projects are completed efficiently and professionally.
At Able Construction Group, we don't just manage projects—we build trusted relationships. Our veteran-owned culture is rooted in service, accountability, and delivering on our commitments. From due diligence through project completion, we are Ready, Willing & Able to help hospitality and commercial property owners achieve their renovation, restoration, and construction goals.
Please CLICK HERE to learn more about Able Construction Group.
St. Patrick's Day Golf Open Brings Central Florida Hospitality Together in Record Style
The luck of the Irish was in full swing at our annual St. Patrick’s Day Golf Open at the beautiful ChampionsGate Golf Club (Thank You, Marc Reicher).
This year, this signature golf tournament featured more than 200 golfers and 36 generous hole sponsors on two courses. This was a CFHLA first and this year’s tournament was bigger, greener, and more festive than ever!
This year’s event was elevated with customized tournament pin flags, an authentic Irish breakfast, and a traditional Irish lunch of corned beef and cabbage. Both first-place teams (one for each course) took home a bottle of Irish whiskey delivered straight from Sean’s Bar, the oldest pub in Ireland.
Congratulations to our Tournament Champions from the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, who claimed the CFHLA Shamrock Cup and a commemorative pin flags!
From networking on the greens to celebrating at the luncheon, we’re proud to create opportunities for our members to build relationships, strengthen their businesses, and continue to move the hospitality industry forward in Central Florida.
Thank you to everyone who played, sponsored, and supported this fantastic event. Your participation made it a day full of great golf, great company, and just the right amount of Irish luck.
Additionally, thank you to all our other event sponsors, including our festive hole sponsors, putting contest sponsor, breakfast sponsor, raffle sponsor, and competition sponsors. To see a complete list, CLICK HERE.
Congratulations to our Winners Including:
2026 Tournament Champions
Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center
First Place Team
Mixed Team of Engineered Energy Equipment, NextEra Energy Services, Phoenix Landscape Solutions
Second Place Team
International Course – Grande Lakes Orlando
National Course – Clean Tec Outsourcing
Third Place Team
International Course – American Pools & Spa
National Course – DMI Paving and Sealcoating
Best Decorated Hole / Costume – International Course LandCare
Best Decorated Hole / Costume – National Course DBK, Inc.
Best Food – International Course Blown Away, LLC
Best Food –National Course JCQ Services
Best Beverage – International Course Kustom
Best Beverage – National Course Clean Tec Outsourcing
Women’s Longest Drive:
Christina Martinez, SimpleFire
Women’s Closest to the Pin:
Gretchen Montgomery, Elevated
Men’s Longest Drive:
Chris Petrie, DMI Paving & Sealcoating
Justin Goodwin, Resource Pavement Group
Men’s Closest to the Pin:
August Decker, Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes
Ben McCarney, Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando
CFHLA Honors Exceptional Hospitality Front Line Professionals at the Golden Pineapple Awards
CFHLA was proud to host our annual Golden Pineapple Awards Dinner and celebration at the Orlando World Center Marriott (Thank you, Robert Bray, General Manager).
This year’s celebration attracted over 950 attendees and recognized 261 “front line” employees from 68 different CFHLA Member lodging properties across the Central Florida region. Each of these incredible professionals was nominated in one of thirteen categories for their exemplary hospitality service and outstanding dedication in 2025.
Once again, thank you to Ybeth Bruzual of Spectrum News 13, who served as our guest emcee for the third year in a row.
Congratulations to all our Nominees and 2026 Golden Pineapple Award Winners!
Outstanding Back Office Employee
Kat Maldonado
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort
Outstanding Bell Person/Concierge Employee
Alexa Perez
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
Outstanding Community Service Employee
La Creashia Blash
Westgate Resort Vacation Villas & Town Center
Outstanding Convention Center / Banquet Employee
Jose Mendoza
Wyndham I-Drive Avanti Resort & Conference Center
Outstanding Culinary Employee
Amanda Kenyon
Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes
Outstanding Engineering Employee
John Martinez
Holiday Inn Orlando International Airport
Outstanding Food & Beverage Service Employee
Russ Robers
Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport
Outstanding Front Office Employee
Susan Connelly
Orlando World Center Marriott
Outstanding Housekeeping Employee
Ivelliss Alvarez
Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld
Outstanding Laundry Employee
Libia Mendenhall
Holiday Inn Club Vacations – Orange Lake Resort
Outstanding Recreational Employee
Kathy Alexis
Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center
Outstanding Security / Loss Prevention Employee
Prakash Chowti
Hyatt Regency Orlando
Outstanding Steward / Dishwasher Employee
Pierre Ernest Dor
Caribe Royale Orlando
To learn more about each of our 2026 Golden Pineapple Award winners and their stories, please CLICK HERE.
Additionally, through generous donations from CFHLA Members, each honoree received a gift basket filled with attraction and entertainment tickets, gift cards, and more. Thank you to the following companies who contributed to these honoree baskets, including: Able Construction Group, Advent Health Orlando, Artisan Window Fashions, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Encore, Experience Kissimmee, Fun Spot America, Global Sourcing International, Orlando City Soccer, Orlando Health, SeaWorld Orlando Resort, The Service Companies and Universal Orlando Resort.
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