CLEVELAND (March 23, 2017) - Destination Cleveland, the only organization
in Cuyahoga County responsible for growing the travel and tourism industry, announced
the recipients of its Hospitality Star and Cleveland Champions awards today at its
2017 annual meeting. The accolades are presented annually to Northeast Ohio
residents who go above and beyond to positively change the perception of
Cleveland as a desired destination for meetings/conventions and leisure travel.
"Research shows that residents of a destination are critical
resources for those planning a trip and play an even greater role in creating a
truly authentic experience throughout the visitor's journey," said David
Gilbert, president and CEO, Destination Cleveland. "The interactions our
residents have with travelers significantly help to change the perception of
Cleveland and create unforgettable experiences that contribute to visitors'
decisions to come back."
HOSPITALITY STAR
AWARD
To recognize the vital role Northeast Ohio's hospitality workers
play in creating an authentic visitor experience, Destination Cleveland awards
its Hospitality Star Award to a frontline staff member nominated
for providing excellent customer service and hospitality to Cleveland visitors.
The 2016 honor was awarded to Jay Casey, a bartender and Cleveland connoisseur
at Music Box Supper Club.
Nominated by
his manager, Casey is known for serving Cleveland visitors their drink of
choice with a side of Cleveland history. Regaling guests with stories of
Cleveland's past as well as the city's more recent renaissance, Casey was noted
as one who "shines a unique love and light on not just the Music Box or the Flats,
but the entire city of Cleveland."
Casey received
this year's Hospitality Star Award for providing a personalized tour of some of
the city's greatest gems ranging from its oldest bar to the Rock & Roll
Hall of Fame for a recent Music Box patron and newcomer to Cleveland. The guest
shared his sincere gratitude with Casey's manager, stating that Casey's genuine
hospitality helped him "fall in
love with Cleveland."
Those eligible for the Hospitality Star nomination include anyone that
interacts with a visitor during their stay, such as volunteers and staff at
hotels, restaurants, attractions, transportation authorities, the airport, taxi
cab companies, Uber and more. Past winners and the description of their
superior service can be viewed here.
CLEVELAND CHAMPIONS
AWARD
Also recognized
at the annual meeting was Ginenne Clark, events and publications coordinator for the Society
for Photographic Education (SPE), as Destination Cleveland's 2016 Cleveland
Champion. The annual Cleveland
Champions award is given to a Northeast Ohio resident for their effort to
help bring meetings and conventions to Cleveland.
In
response to her employer's search for a host city for its 2019 National
Conference, Clark channeled her passion for Cleveland by working with the
Destination Cleveland sales team to design a convention/hotel package well-suited
for SPE's meeting planners to host the meeting Downtown, a first for the Cleveland-based
company. Thanks to Clark's efforts, the 2019 SPE National Conference will be
held at Hilton Cleveland
Downtown on March 3, 2019, and will bring approximately 1,500 attendees
(2,043 total room nights; 500 on peak). The conference will generate an
estimated $1.8 million in economic impact.
Destination
Cleveland's current list of Cleveland Champions ranges from local CEOs to young
professionals who have been able to keep their company's meetings and events in
Cleveland. For more information about the program and the critical role
local influencers play in Cleveland's meetings and conventions industry, click here.
For more information about Destination Cleveland or
visitor-related developments, attractions and activities, please visit thisiscleveland.com, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
and subscribe to our channels on YouTube
and Pinterest.