Would someone please give the Palm Springs City Council some loving. Well, the city’s tourism community did just that Tuesday night when the council was showered with praise and the 2015 Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement award at the 15th annual Best of the Best Golden Palm Awards.

The evening honors the folks who keep the area’s tourism engine humming along. It’s people like waiters, front desk operators, dishwashers and the many others who keep the wheels from coming off of Palm Springs’ most intense economy. Nearly 60 nominees were honored, judged by a panel made up from the hospitality community.

“The heart of our industry is our employees,” Tony Bruggemans, general manager for Le Vallauris Restaurant and the founder of the Best of the Best awards, told the ballroom of more than 300 workers and civic and business leaders who attended the event at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

However, amid an FBI investigation looking into public corruption at city hall that has called to question business relationships among Mayor Steve Pougnet — who was not at the Best of the Best Awards — and local developers; along with questionable land sales approved by the mayor and City Council, council-members have not always found themselves cast in the most appealing light in the last few months.

Though you wouldn’t have known it when a somewhat bewildered and bemused City Council — minus Rick Hutcheson and Pougnet, both of whom will be stepping down at the end of the year because they are not running for re-election — and city manager David Ready came up on stage Tuesday to accept the award.

“We know that we want to be there for you,” Ready offered in his share of the acceptance speech.

“Because in the end, what we all know, and what we do know is that this is a tapestry, and we want to be there for you because you are here for us. This wonderful city of Palm Springs could not be the place it is without you,” he continued, in remarks clearly unrehearsed. “So we thank you all.”

“On behalf of the Palm Springs City Council, I can’t believe you guys would give us an award, when we’re so grateful to you,” said Mayor Pro Tem Paul Lewin.

Past Hall of Fame awards have gone to Milton Jones, publisher of Palm Springs Life and Bruggemans.

The Saguaro Palm Springs received the Tourism Partner of the Year award.

Will Harris, with the Renaissance Palm Springs, received the Front of House award in the 51 rooms or more category.

Juliana Interiano, with Caliente Tropics hotel, received the Heart of House award in the 51 rooms or more category.

Elsie Cota, with the Alcazar Palm Springs, received the Front of House award in the 50 rooms or less category.

Maria Aguilera, with The Willows Historic Inn, received the Heart of House award in the 50 rooms or less category.

Iveth Serrato, with Acme House Co., received the Va cation Home & Condo Rentals Front of House award.

Stacy Botroff, also with Acme House Co., received the Vacation Home & Condo Rentals Heart of House award.

Jonathan Ruiz, with Las Casuelas Terraza, received the Restaurant Front of House award.

Pablo Aguiar, with the Hilton Palm Springs, received the Restaurant Heart of House award.

Julian Chaix, with the Hard Rock Hotel Palm Springs, received the Retail Person of the Year award.

Nicholle Diaz, with Desert Adventures Eco Tours, received the Attractions Employee of the Year award.

Source: http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2015/09/23/palm-springs-city-council-praised-tourism-awards/72709960/