Four New Honorees selected for Atlanta Hospitality Hall of Fame 

October 2, 2025

Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) will recognize four new individuals during the 26^th annual Atlanta Hospitality Hall of Fame ceremony Wednesday, Nov. 12 at The Foundry at Puritan Mill. The event will honor Norma Dean, Pat and Sherry Henry, Gerry Klaskala and Cookie Smoak. 

“Our new inductees have had a significant impact on not only our visitors, but also those who call Atlanta home,” said William Pate, president and CEO, ACVB. “We are proud to welcome these individuals into the 2025 Atlanta Hospitality Hall of Fame and celebrate their lifetime achievements.” 

Dean served as director of national specialty sales for Delta Air Lines where she managed $2.5 billion in segmented and leisure revenue before retiring earlier this year. During her 40-year career with Delta, she held several leadership roles including general manager of corporate sales for the Northeast region and general manager of specialty sales. She also served as co-executive sponsor of the She Leads Global Sales and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion employee groups for Delta global sales.  

As president and vice president of Dragon Con Inc., Pat and Sherry Henry have been instrumental in shaping the event from a novel idea into an internationally recognized science fiction, fantasy and pop-culture convention. Since co-founding Dragon Con in 1987, the Henrys have guided its growth, with Pat directing the overall vision and Sherry overseeing vendor relations and finances. Under their leadership, the convention has become a landmark event, attracting more than 75,000 attendees to Atlanta each year.  

Klaskala is a pivotal figure in Atlanta’s culinary scene and the acclaimed co-founder of Canoe and Aria. Prior to his retirement earlier this year, Klaskala served as chef and co-owner of Aria, leading the restaurant to become one of Atlanta’s most celebrated dining spots and a James Beard Award finalist for Outstanding Service. He’s been a key driver in Atlanta’s restaurant and hospitality scene for more than 40 years, holding positions with Hyatt Hotels Corporation and opening many iconic Atlanta restaurants such as Buckhead Diner. 

Smoak served as president of ATL Airport District Convention & Visitors Bureau from 2013 until her retirement in 2024, elevating the area’s profile as a premier destination for meetings, events and tourism. Under her leadership, she expanded the organization from representing a single city to four cities, generating an economic impact of nearly $425 million. Her extensive experience in the hospitality industry includes more than 20 years with Delta Air Lines and director of destination services at ACVB. She also served on the board for Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus (GACVB).  

In addition to honoring the 2025 Hospitality Hall of Fame inductees, ACVB will present the Spurgeon Richardson Member of the Year Award to Georgia Aquarium and the Volunteer of the Year Award to Patrick Lee, director of sales and marketing at Embassy Suites by Hilton Atlanta Buckhead. 

AT&T, Atlanta Business Chronicle, Delta Air Lines and The Coca-Cola Company serve as presenting sponsors for this year’s Hospitality Hall of Fame. Individual tickets or tables are available for purchase at DiscoverAtlanta.com/HHOF.  

Headshots are available for download here.