The Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce has announced this year’s Best of Beverly Hills Golden Palm Awards Honorees.
“The Chamber is fortunate to lead a world-class community of the most unique and innovative businesses. Each year, we celebrate the amazing business community and honor exceptional winners. The awards selection process was challenging with so many deserving entries,”said Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer Todd Johnson.
Fred Hayman Visionary Award Honoree
The Fred Hayman Visionary Award honors “an individual(s) or business who has brought their unique vision of Beverly Hills to life by positively uplifting, supporting, and influencing the business and residential communities and beyond.”
This year’s winner is Courier Publisher John Bendheim. “John Bendheim is a staple in the community of Beverly Hills, both personally and professionally. His contributions both financially as well as advisory positions, have been instrumental in leading this community forward for many years and he continues to do so,” said the Chamber’s statement.
Above & Beyond Award Honorees
Above & Beyond Award honorees are “businesses who lead by example by going above and beyond in their business practices and while contributing to causes supporting the Beverly Hills and surrounding communities.”
This year, the award winners are:
Cedars-Sinai Health System
“Cedars-Sinai Health System has been a force in the Beverly Hills and greater Los Angeles community, especially since the pandemic outbreak. They have been great leaders in fighting the COVID-19 virus and dealing with the hospitalizations of patients with it,” said the Chamber.
Meraki Fitness (Small Business)
“Meraki Fitness Owner Anna Stavaridis immediately pivoted at the beginning of the pandemic by converting her services to a virtual environment, welcoming existing and new Chamber and community members. While balancing a wide dimension of impacts from the mandated quarantine, Anna immediately provided online services to adapt to our new world, adopting technology with ease, and guiding others to shift their businesses as well,” said the Chamber.
Innovation Award Honorees
The Innovation Award honors “businesses who excel in having created and implemented an original idea, which demonstrates marketplace success and practical development.”
The honorees are:
Spago Beverly Hills
“When in house dining reopened and then quickly pivoted again to only outdoor dining, Spago Beverly Hills had already arranged to be one of the first dining establishments to utilize Open BH. They applied for both a dining permit and liquor license immediately and were able to utilize the stunning art mural wall that was erected to help mitigate some of the Metro construction issues as well as the streetscape. In addition to these efforts, they have been extremely careful regarding mandates with their staff (testing regularly) and guests regarding safe distancing, masks wearing, sanitizing ensuring the utmost safety for all,” said the Chamber.
UMBERTO (Small Business)
“UMBERTO Beverly Hills, a 12,000 square foot salon, home to 20 cutting, styling and coloring chairs (offering color, highlights, balayage and keratin treatments) seven nail stations that offer gel, nail art, manicures and pedicures, has transformed its parking lot into a luxury outdoor salon. The “Open Air Salon” has a vacation vibe with music filling the air. The space is covered by white sails, white mirrors and pots of white roses throughout the space. The asphalt has been painted light and dark gray stripes to give it a carpet-like feel,” said the Chamber.
The honorees will be recognized during the Beverly Hills Back to Business Fall Virtual Collaborative on Oct. 21.
