Bittel USA, an alliance partner with one of the world's largest manufacturers of guestroom telephones, was named a preferred vendor for Best Western International.

Irvin W. Sandman, chair of Graham & Dunn's Hospitality Industry Group, was named the 2008 recipient of the Anthony G. Marshall Hospitality Law Award during the sixth annual Hospitality Law Conference last month in Houston.

Sealy Inc. promoted Joe Miller to director of contract sales. Miller was the eastern regional sales manager the past three years and will now be responsible for sales and marketing for all domestic contract sales.

Maytag Commercial Laundry celebrated its golden anniversary at the 50th annual Commercial Laundry Meeting in Scottsdale, AZ earlier this month.

Brown Hotel Group celebrated its 60th anniversary last month as one of the top hotel brokerage firms.

Milliken & Company's Napery Fabrics Business added Charles Young and Heidi Mitchell to its hospitality sales team. Young will manage the north east territory and Mitchell the central territory. Young previously worked as a process and product improvement specialist in the company's Sharon plant in South Carolina, while Mitchell had been a plant accountant in the chemical business for Milliken.

Sloan Valve Company promoted Bill Madison from Northeast regional sales manager to national sales manager. He'll manage and direct the regional sales managers and work out of Sloan's Eastern Distribution Center.

JRC Inc. Sales Agency will represent the complete Schréder Lighting line throughout Utah. Schréder Lighting USA is marketing the brand in the fields of public lighting, floodlighting, tunnel/transit lighting and industrial and urban lighting.

Aztec Group, Inc. appointed Peter Mekras as managing director. Since joining Aztec in 2003, Mekras has completed transactions representing more than $1 billion.

Audit Logistics was chosen to provide warehouse management services for the renovation of public areas on the Westchester Marriott (NY). The property, owned by Northview Hotel Group, is scheduled to undergo installation late this spring.

LRA Worldwide, Inc., a consulting, organizational development firm, added Jeff Ganis to its research practice as a senior research consultant.

Aspire, an international training and consulting company, named Dan Sierka as director of results. He brings more than 20 years of sales and marketing experience to the position.

AlturaSolutions Communications was retained by new clients Crown Mats and Matting and Cannon Hygiene, Inc. The company will promote high-performance matting systems for Crown Mats and on raising brand awareness for Cannon Hygiene.