Ava Finstuen
pdt-landingpage-504751472801370.jpg

Marriott Awards of Excellence Video Production

Storytelling, Creative Direction, Video Production, Coordination + Logistics

Marriott International’s annual awards ceremony, The J. Willard Marriott Awards of Excellence, celebrates associates who are exceptional people that live out the company’s core values. A key part of the ceremony are the videos that introduce the winner and tell their story to the audience before accepting their award on stage.

In 2024, I executive produced five of the fifteen videos in-person and remotely with internal and external crews. My pre-production process included studying the award nominations, running a virtual pre-shoot interview with the winners, developing production timelines, interview questions and shot lists, plus coordinating travel and logistics with the crews and point of contacts.

On arrival of the in-person shoots in Colorado and Vietnam, I met with the point of contacts to discuss the schedule, meet the team and walk through the hotel. When the crew arrived, we scouted for interview and b-roll locations and I coordinated location availability with interview scheduling. I conducted the interviews and directed the conversation based on the interviewees’ answers to get the bites needed for the storyline. For the remote shoots in the U.K., Nigeria and Indonesia, I briefed the crew on the storyline, interview questions and shot list to ensure that the objective of the shoot was understood. I was in contact with the crew throughout the shoot for status updates and provided direction on interview questions, shoot locations, schedule changes and pickup shots.

My post-production process began with reviewing the interview transcripts to create a story outline. I met with the editors, who were also the shooters, to collaborate on the story’s direction and hear their point of view. Once the interview bites were strung out, I noted time codes for ideas on b-roll and filling storyline gaps with lines from the interview transcripts. I carefully proofed the video GFX (title card, lower thirds, etc.) for any errors before sharing the cut with stakeholders. During review, I presented the storyline and addressed questions to narrow down changes for the editor.

 

 Anna Pazdera

Anna Pazdera, Executive Head Chef at the London Heathrow Marriott Hotel, is a culinary innovator passionate about sustainability. She transforms food waste into creative dishes like “banana skin burgers” and has implemented initiatives such as “Meatless Mondays” and waste-free breakfast menus to promote eco-conscious dining. She spearheaded the hotel’s Food Waste Lab, experimenting with zero-waste techniques to create products like soap and plant food boosters. Anna credits mentors for her success and now pays that forward by mentoring young women in the culinary field, inspiring them to achieve their potential.

 
 

Next Gen Marriott Business Council Vietnam + Cambodia

The Next Gen Marriott Business Council Vietnam & Cambodia is the inaugural winner of the David S. Marriott Next Gen Business Council Award for their dedication to driving innovation, creating community and reinforcing Marriott’s core values to the next generation of leaders. The group’s leadership established a framework with four key pillars to align activities: Guests, Associates, Serve 360 and Innovation. More than 405 activities were sponsored in 2023 and every Marriott-branded hotel in Vietnam and Cambodia participated.

 

Dawit Anteneh

 

Dawit Anteneh, Central Plant Stationary Engineer Supervisor at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, leads a team of nine technicians in maintaining one of Colorado’s largest and oldest central utility plants. Known for his meticulous attention to detail, Dawit ensures optimal system performance and handles over 90% of refurbishment work in-house, saving costs and extending equipment life. Committed to guest satisfaction, Dawit audited and re-commissioned the hotel’s building automation system, dramatically improving performance and guest comfort. Originally from Ethiopia, Dawit began his hotel career in 1997, embracing his role with passion and pride, saying, “It’s not work when you love what you do!”

 
 

Lagos Marriott Hotel Ikeja

As winners of the Debbie Marriott Harrison TakeCare Award of Excellence, the Lagos Marriott Hotel Ikeja is passionate about putting people first and making an impact on their associates’ physical, mental and financial wellness. Three years ago, the hotel opened as one of the first Marriott Hotels in Nigeria and leadership prioritized implementing TakeCare principles. As a result, associate satisfaction scores soared to 96% and hotel revenue increased by 29%.

Jennifer Chenggish

Jennifer Chenggish, Front Office Supervisor at Four Points by Sheraton Surabaya, Pakuwon Indah, is known for her warm smile and commitment to exceeding guest expectations. She meticulously prepares pre-arrival details to ensure a seamless experience, enabling her team to succeed. Jennifer’s dedication shines in small gestures, like personally engaging with guests, which often results in glowing reviews. In one year, she enrolled 835 new Marriott Bonvoy members, fully embracing Marriott’s “put people first” value, which she says aligns perfectly with her own upbringing.