The Miss Hospitality Pageant at the Saenger Theatre in Hattiesburg crowned Laurel-native Rebekah Staples the 2007 Mississippi Miss Hospitality. She was among the 34 contestants who participated for more than $75,000 in scholarships and prizes. Staples, 21, holds a bachelor's degree in French and a minor in political science and plans to work in U.S. foreign policy. Staples is the second winner from Laurel in the pageant's history and the 58th Mississippi Miss Hospitality. Contestants were judged based on intelligence, attractiveness, and accomplishments in public speaking and communication.
Crystal International sells off its subsidiary Crystal Hospitality Holdings
Crystal International Travel Group, Inc. has reportedly sold 100% of the outstanding stock of its wholly owned subsidiary Crystal Hospitality Holdings, Inc. to Advanced Connections, Inc. (ACI), an Idaho corporation. It was supposedly an all-cash deal; a payment of $150,000 will be made to CINT over a 5-year period. Confirming the alliance, Peter Dugan, CEO of Crystal, said, "We are pleased to complete this difficult chapter in our evolution. The sale will dramatically improve our Balance Sheet, improving our position and enabling us to complete the development of our IntelliFares™ business and other travel assets." The company filed a Form 8-K, which provides the details of the transaction, with the SEC on August 6, 2007.
Marcello recognized for his hospitality staffing
Salvatore M. Marcello, owner and founder of Hospitality One, has been acknowledged by Cambridge Who's Who for his accomplishments in the field of hospitality staffing. Marcello has created a first-class operation that places importance on its reliability, quality, and consistency of service. At Hospitality One, he oversees the hiring of new staff and handles major clients. Marcello ensures that Hospitality One provides consistent quality at a competitive price. Hospitality One is a leading name in event staffing, providing expertly trained and experienced employees to top clients. Marcello sees that each of his employees—greeters, hosts/hostesses, servers, bartenders, and valet parkers—are trained in fine dining and have at least one year of relevant experience at the time of hiring.
