THE WINNERS' CIRCLE as of Jan. 9, 2018

Deb
Elless, a senior reservations agent at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver for 22 years,
was awarded Tourism Employee of the Year at the 2017 Canadian Tourism Awards
presented by the Travel Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) in Gatineau,
Quebec on Nov. 28. 

“This
speaks to the service excellence that Deb consistently provides to our guests
and fellow colleagues every day she comes to work and we are thrilled that she
has been recognized as the best in Canada,” said Michael Pye, general
manager of Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. 

In
addition to her position in the reservations department, Elless is committee
chair for Fairmont Hotel Vancouver’s annual United Way Campaign, vice president
for the local union that represents hotel employees, and mentor to the reservations team where she has connected with hundreds of thousands of guests
over her tenure. 

“Her efforts have been acknowledged in the many
glowing notes of appreciation we receive from across the country and around the
world. In her role, she is often the first point of contact for guests, but is
quick to slip on another hat and becomes a tourism ambassador to share her
passion and knowledge of Vancouver, insider secrets, and
​“must-do’s”, says, Pye. ​“Deb takes great delight in
making every guest feel special and doesn’t miss an opportunity to make a stay
extraordinary.”

Ian Cheverie: First Les Clefs d’Or concierge for P.E.I.

CHARLOTTETOWN — Murphy
Hospitality Group (MHG) from Prince Edward Island is pleased to congratulate
one of their own, Ian Cheverie, guest experience manager and concierge of The
Great George Hotel, on receiving his Clefs d’Or last month. 

Les
Clefs d’Or, or The Golden Keys as it is commonly known, is a society of hotel concierges whose aim as an organization is to facilitate the exchange of ideas
between their members and to provide mutual assistance in order to better serve
their valued guests. It is a rigorous, two year process to receive entry into
the organization and membership is held in high regard.

“Genuine Island
Hospitality is something that Murphy Hospitality Group and The Great George
Hotel take very seriously, and Ian is an excellent example of someone who lives
and breathes the guest experience,” says Kevin Murphy, president of MHG.v“He
continues to go above and beyond, truly living his favourite saying, ​“The answer
is yes, what is your question.” 

“The values that Les Clefs d’Or Concierges
abide by could not be more true to the values we instill in ourselves at The
Great George,” says Ian. ​“For me, that was a deciding factor that Les Clefs
d’Or was the type of organization that I wanted to be a part of. Keeping
positive relationships, understanding that we exist for the guest, spreading
our passion for our industry with today’s youth, and striving to continuously
offer the best possible experience that you can offer, are some of the reasons
that made me want to become a member.” 

Upon receiving his golden keys, Ian
will become the first Les Clefs d’Or concierge on Prince Edward Island. This
honour will help ensure the guest experience at The Great George is always at
the highest level, and will further draw attention to Charlottetown and PEI as
a première destination in Canada. 

Gupta siblings boost Rogue Insight Capital Ltd.

MARKHAM, Ont. — Canada’s entrepreneurial community has received
a sibling-powered boost with the launch of Rogue Insight Capital Ltd. (www​.roguein​sight​cap​i​tal​.com)

The Markham, ON-based angel investment firm
specializes in supporting innovative start-ups across industries including
cleantech, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, mining and metals,
healthcare, biotechnology, and real estate-related start-ups, as examples. 

With a multi-million dollar capital investment
pool under management, the company provides funding and mentorship, facilitates
strategic partnerships and offers a robust support network to some of the
world’s leading entrepreneurs. 

Led by the sibling team of Suraj and Reetu
Gupta, and backed by The Gupta Group, Rogue
Insight Capital currently manages investments across three continents and is
actively seeking new opportunities. 

The duo, who hold C‑suite positions with The
Gupta Group and Easton’s Group of Hotels, will be actively engaged as angel
investors, delivering their extensive business expertise to the various
companies in which they invest. 

“Our goal is to identify visionary entrepreneurs
with game-changing ideas, provide them with the financial and business
resources they need to grow, then change the world with some truly
revolutionary products and services,” said Suraj Gupta, Rogue Insight Capital co-Founder, president and chief executive officer. 

To help create the conditions for success, the
firm is embracing a long-term investment approach as it seeks to find, fund and
coach dynamic young companies from their inception through growth and eventual
exit. 

“We believe that with our angel investment team
behind them, the entrepreneurs we support will have a strong chance of becoming
market leaders in their respective fields,” says Reetu Gupta, Rogue Insight
Capital’s co-founder and chief strategy officer, who this year earned a place
on Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 ranking of outstanding young business
leaders. 

“Our job is to find entrepreneurs who are
passionate, driven and committed to taking smart risks as we work to innovate
and disrupt traditional business models,” she adds.