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<< Return to news releasesTop Tourism Employees Honored at the 2009 Paradise Coast Tourism Star Awards
May 13, 2009
Collier County’s top tourism stars were honored with Paradise Coast Tourism Star Awards at the seventh annual Collier County Tourism Week celebration and luncheon today at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in Naples with 200 people in attendance from the area’s tourism industry. The event takes place every year to coincide with National Tourism Week.
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Media Contact: JoNell Modys, Cell: 239-580-8481, jonellmodys@colliergov.net
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Naples, Fla. (May 13, 2009) – Collier County’s top tourism stars were honored with Paradise Coast Tourism Star Awards at the seventh annual Collier County Tourism Week celebration and luncheon today at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in Naples with 200 people in attendance from the area’s tourism industry. The event takes place every year to coincide with National Tourism Week.
“Each year we honor Collier County’s top employees working both behind the scenes and in front line guest service positions,” said Jack Wert, executive director for the Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). “These are the people that make a difference and keep visitors coming back to our area. We have great weather, beautiful beaches, excellent hotels, resorts, restaurants and attractions, but the true treasures of our destination are those workers that continually create fun, memorable and meaningful experiences for our visitors.”
The theme for this year’s event was Collier Tourism – Our Greatest Treasure in recognition of the vital economic benefit that tourism brings to Collier County and the priceless contribution of the area’s hardworking hospitality employees. Short-term visitors staying in hotels, vacation rentals and campgrounds create an annual economic impact of over $1.2 billion in Collier County, and the more than 31,000 outstanding employees in tourism and hospitality make our area the destination of choice for over 1.4 million visitors each year.
Keynote speaker Dale A. Brill, PhD, director of the Governor's Office of Tourism, Trade & Economic Development, spoke about the importance of tourism to the health of Florida’s economy.
Following is a list of the 2009 Paradise Coast Tourism Star Award winners along with a few highlights from their nomination forms.
Outstanding Hotel Employee – Support Staff Alma Martinez, Housekeeping Room Attendant, Marco Beach Ocean Resort Alma is always on top of the needs of her guests and remembers each guest’s special needs and requests in great detail. Even on her days off, her supervisor receives phone calls from her reminding him of the special needs of each of the guests on her floor. For instance, she’ll know that a guest is expecting company in her suite and will need the room cleaned by a certain time, or that a guest has a detergent allergy and the linen should not be changed. Alma is a team player and always helps her coworkers without being asked. By the end of each day, she is still smiling and all admire her positive energy.
Outstanding Attractions Employee – Support Staff Ralph Williams, Director of Facilities, Naples Zoo Ralph Williams defines the phrase Support Staff as a key member of the Naples Zoo team since 1976. He began his career as a member of the grounds crew but quickly demonstrated a talent for learning innumerable job skills in quick time, which led him to become the right hand of zoo founder Lawrence “Jungle Larry” Tetzlaff. Ralph is a “Jack of All Trades and Master of Them All.” There seems to be nothing that Ralph cannot fix or build and in so doing, find the most economical solution, a talent that has saved Naples Zoo hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years with his determined work ethic and ingenuity. The ever popular boat ride to the primate islands was Ralph’s brainchild. With each passing year his work continues to outshine the last with more fresh ideas that make the zoo a vibrant part of the community, and after nearly 33 years of employment he shows no signs of slowing down.
Outstanding Hotel Sales Employee Cathy Christopher, Director of Sales & Marketing, The Inn on Fifth There are many people in this destination that know Cathy Christopher – she is well known and loved by many. Cathy works tirelessly to bring tourism to the Southwest Florida area. She is constantly seeking new and unique opportunities for her clients, providing them not only with wonderful accommodations within her hotel but actively seeking and scheduling outside activity options. Cathy’s professional and managerial skills lead her to easily handle groups of different sizes. She is very hands-on and is well respected within the hospitality community. She has a high level of energy that would put a teenager to shame. Cathy is not only building a great future for this area as a whole but she serves the tourism industry with her “Can Do” and “Will Get it Done” attitude.
Outstanding Attractions Sales Employee Michelle Castady, Destination Sales Manager, Naples Transportation, Tours & Event Planning Michelle crafts programs and events of all sizes that include tours, special events, décor, entertainment, support staffing and transportation. She eagerly approaches each job by learning every aspect the company for which she is planning an event. She has a resilient ability to prioritize, organize and manage the myriad components that make up a truly memorable event. Michelle earns high marks from peers and clients by always offering a fresh and creative perspective to every project and event. Michelle is currently pursuing her designation as a Destination Management Company Professional, the hallmark of professional achievement in the Destination Management industry.
Outstanding Hotel Employee – Front Line Sandy Lacefield, Director of Catering, The Inn on Fifth Sandy leaves such a positive impression on wedding and group event clients, her nomination form contained excerpts from at least 15 glowing letters of praise – here are just a few. From a bride: I just wanted to let you know how thoroughly pleased we were with our experience at your hotel and your Director of Catering specifically. Our evening turned out perfectly. I really want to convey how enjoyable the Director of Catering made the whole experience. We worked with many vendors for the wedding and she was a STAR! From a corporate meeting planner: I want to thank you for the genuine, great service provided to me and my groups. I do many of these meetings in hotels all over North America, and the service you provided and your personal involvement exceeds all the other places I have been.
Outstanding Attractions Employee – Front Line Kenny Hill, Everglades Excursions Lead Tour Guide, Naples Transportation, Tours & Event Planning Kenny doesn’t have a job, he has a mission to share the beauty of the Everglades and the Paradise Coast with our area visitors. Every day is as if it were the first tour ever. Everglades Excursions frequently has repeat guests requesting him as their tour guide because they had such a great time with him previously and want to introduce him to friends and family. Kenny often goes the extra step to make sure guests feel special. In one instance, a little girl had purchased a gator ring at one of the shops but dropped it in the water during a stop to view manatees and was very upset during the stop for lunch. Kenny ran out and bought her another one. The smile on her face was reward enough. During summer months when alligators might be difficult to find Kenny will take guests to multiple locations that he knows about until they have found alligators, even when he should be off the clock.
Hospitality Above & Beyond Ajan Sathan, In-Room Dining Attendant, Marco Beach Ocean Resort Ajan is an outstanding room service attendant, but that’s not all. When he isn’t serving he is such a team player, he can often be found cooking, creating unique culinary experiences for guests. Ajan is constantly recognized by guests with comments like “he is so friendly I will take him home…” or “he makes room service feel like a fine dining experience.” Ajan’s outgoing personality and passion for his work make him a very unique employee and an invaluable member of the team.
Best Strategic Partner The Inn on Fifth This award recognizes the business or organization that has shown the highest level of exemplary service to Collier County Tourism. A strong partner is always willing to work in conjunction with the Convention and Visitors Bureau and other industry partners to help promote the destination. This year the award goes to The Inn on Fifth, a hotel that has made a commitment to lead the way in support for an advocacy of the Convention and Visitors Bureau. A quick and positive response can always be counted on from the hotel for complimentary accommodations for packages assembled by the CVB. For FAM trips, the Inn on Fifth is always among the first to offer services. From the owner of the hotel to the sales team to every department within the hotel there is a solid line of outspoken verbal encouragement and appreciation of the efforts of the entire CVB team.
The Rising Star Alexis Brooks, Park Ranger, Big Cypress National Preserve The Rising Star Awards recognizes a new member of a visitor service team that has been with the organization for less than one year. Alexis joined the interpretation staff at Big Cypress National Preserve in August 2008 and she works daily at the Oasis Visitor Center desk greeting visitors from all over the world. In addition to greeting visitors, she works to develop materials to help visitors understand the importance of this unique area of Southwest Florida. She recently co-created a 25-page garden guide for visitors to the Native Plant and Wildflower Garden at the Oasis Visitor Center. Alexis is also an EMT and is on the preserve’s safety committee. This allows her to assist visitors in a variety of ways with special attention to their safety. Her professionalism ensures that the center’s more than 250,000 visitors each year have an enjoyable and memorable experience while visiting Southwest Florida.
Approachability Hope Haworth, Journey Ambassador, Hilton Naples This award is given to the person who exudes an aura of approachability making people feel welcome, and who is open to communicate on many levels with guests. From arrival to departure, Hope Haworth works to engage every guest in conversation while providing them with information to help make their stay at the Hilton Naples and in the destination a memorable one. In one instance, Hope recommended a restaurant to a couple that had come to Naples for their anniversary. By coincidence, Hope was dining at the same restaurant with her husband and noticed the anniversary couple. She had the chef send over a special dessert for the couple, which resulted in a huge WOW factor – and this was all on her own time. Hope’s many wonderful efforts were just acknowledged at the national level when she was awarded the first place recognition award as the Hilton Hotels & Resorts Top Journey Ambassador. She was selected from all the other Journey Ambassador’s in the United States Hilton Hotels system.
Reel Star Hilton Naples The reel star award acknowledges a tourism partner that has distinguished itself as a film friendly location through work with the CVB’s film office. Our film commissioner Maggie McCarty received a phone call from a very valued client, a production company out of New York, with high praise for this year’s winner. “We had a lot of changes and long days and the staff was always ready to meet our needs. At the end of the day the crew really looked forward to returning to the hotel for its great service. The staff couldn’t have been more accommodating to us and we will be staying with them whenever we’re shooting in Naples.” This comes from the production coordinator for the TV series Wife Swap, regarding their experience at the Hilton Naples.
Sports Star Ed Torroni, Athletic Supervisor, Collier County Parks & Recreation Ed and his team at the North Collier Regional Park sports complex have consistently supported events generated by the Sports Council of Collier County since the facility opened in November 2006. Despite having to adjust work schedules and stay within budget guidelines, Ed maintains a positive “Can Do” attitude regarding the additional special athletic events. The NCRP sports complex has hosted over 100 sports events of all kinds and sizes over the past three years, resulting in over $6 million in direct economic impact to Collier County. In addition to events at NCRP, Ed has assisted the Sports Council with a number of other high profile events at other Collier County Parks & Recreation facilities, including the EVP Pro-Am Beach Volleyball event at Vanderbilt Beach Park and the F1 ChampBoat Series boat races at Sugden Regional Park. Without Ed’s generous contribution of time, support and experience, the sports tourism event program would not exist as we know it today.
Director’s Award Rocky Beaudry, Owner, Sea Excursions and the Dolphin Explorer The Director’s Award each year is selected by tourism executive director Jack Wert. He recognizes an individual that has made a significant contribution to or impact on the destination. This year, the award goes to Rocky Beaudry, the owner of Sea Excursions and its unique Dolphin Explorer cruise. By sponsoring the 10,000 Islands Dolphin Project – a 5-year scientific study of Marco Island’s and Naples’ resident bottlenose dolphin populations – Sea Excursions has brought a truly unique and meaningful visitor experience to the Paradise Coast. Passengers on board Dolphin Explorer are given tasks and serve as Citizen Scientists. Rocky and his team at Sea Excursions are always ready to partner with the CVB to host visiting travel and outdoor writers and tour operators – an experience that generates rave reviews. Since passengers on board are invited to name baby dolphins when they are first spotted, the CVB’s public relations office asked if it would be possible to name a baby dolphin after the bureau. Within weeks, the crew announced that Paradise the dolphin was the CVB’s new adopted dolphin. Paradise has been featured on the CVB’s Web blog Destination Diary. The cruise is an important and now internationally recognized concept in the development of meaningful ecotourism experiences. The Dolphin Explorer team was invited to present information to the North American Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism conference in 2008 and will participate in upcoming programs for The International Ecotourism Society, bringing global recognition to the beauty and wildlife in our area that make our destination so special.
Tourism Leadership Award Commissioner Tom Henning For dedicated service to the Tourist Development Council as Chairman in 2008.
Paradise Coast Tourism Star Awards Judges An independent panel of judges volunteers to study all submitted nomination forms and then vote on the winners for each award category. The CVB thanks the 2009 panel of judges for their support. The 2009 judges were Beth Rice, VISIT FLORIDA; Audrey Bird, meeting professional; Judy Turner Meyer, HelmsBriscoe; Debbie Newman, Ronald McDonald House; Rhona Saunders, Naples Players; Robin DeMattia, Naples Art Association; Dolly Roberts, DBR Marketing.
The Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention and Visitors Bureau is the official tourism marketing agency for Collier County, Florida, funded entirely by the Collier County tourist development tax. Tourist development taxes pay for beach renourishment and coastal programs, museums, special grants and local tourism industry marketing and promotion. The CVB provides information, assistance and free visitors guides for consumers, travel agents, tour operators, the travel press and meeting planners online at www.ParadiseCoast.com or by calling 1-800-688-3600. The CVB’s local phone number is 239-252-2384.
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