MBA Orlando Presents the Pride Gala Business Awards

Saturday, August 22

JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes

MBA Orlando, Central Florida’s LGBT chamber of commerce, will recognize excellence in LGBT and allied business with a large-scale red-carpet gala coming up this Saturday, August 22. This year’s Pride Gala Business Awards will welcome over 250 of Central Florida’s movers and shakers in the business community to the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes (4040 Central Florida Pkwy., Orlando) for a glamorous evening that aims to spotlight the importance of LGBT and LGBT-friendly businesses in the community at large.

The event begins at 6 p.m. with a red-carpet entrance and a VIP reception, followed at 7 p.m. by a silent auction, a live auction, awards in six categories, an inspiring address from the keynote speaker, musical entertainment, and a post-reception to follow at 11 p.m. All of the ticket sales for this event go straight to MBA Orlando, and proceeds from the silent auction and the live auction will directly benefit this year’s Orlando Pride celebrations.

Awards will be given out in six categories: non-profit of the year, small business of the year, new business of the year, corporate ally, businessman of the year and businesswoman of the year.

The businesses and people nominated for each category are as follows: for non-profit of the year, City Year, Central Florida Community Arts and Orlando Youth Alliance; for small business of the year, Lake Fairview Marina, Lim & Associates, and Here to Help Orlando/Scott Garstka’s Team at ReMax; for new business, The Venue, Orlando City Soccer Club and B Resort and Spa; for corporate ally, Wyndham Worldwide, PNC Bank and Universal Studios; for businessman of the year, Tom Yaegers, Jason Lambert and John Layton; and for businesswoman of the year, Joann Polley, Cathy Keene and Carole Conroy.

Tickets are available for purchase right now and can be bought online by going to mbaorlando.org/tickets-pride-gala. Your name will be held at the door and someone will check you in upon your arrival. The tickets (including three-course meal) cost $87 for MBA Orlando members and $100 for non-members. VIP tickets, which include the pre-show VIP reception with open bars and passed hors d’oeuvres, cost $175 for members and $190 for non-members. People who wish to stay the night at the JW Marriott can book a room with the special MBA rate of $120 per night night. The Ritz Carlton is also available for a special rate of $129 per night. You can book your hotel room at the discounted rates by visiting the aforementioned gala tickets page.

For more information on the Pride Gala Business Awards, visit mbaorlando.org/pridegala.

Mike Halterman

Mike Halterman has been the editor of Hotspots Central since its launch in July 2016. He joined the Hotspots Media Group family as editor of Hotspots' South Florida magazine in June 2013. A former "40 Under 40" honoree in The Advocate magazine, Mike lives in the Tampa Bay area.

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