CLEVELAND (Feb. 24, 2020) –
Destination Cleveland, Cuyahoga County’s destination marketing and management organization, announced the recipients of its Hospitality Star and Cleveland Champions Awards today at its 2020 annual meeting. The honors are presented annually to Northeast Ohio residents who go above and beyond to positively change perceptions of Cleveland as a destination for meetings and conventions as well as leisure travel.
“Residents’ involvement in the region’s travel and tourism industry amplifies the work of Destination Cleveland,” said David Gilbert, president and CEO, Destination Cleveland. “Their efforts strengthen our visitor experience and contribute to the ongoing work to change perceptions and attract more visitors to the region.”
HOSPITALITY STAR AWARD
The
Hospitality Star Award, which is given to a frontline staff member who is recognized by his or her peers as going above and beyond to provide excellent customer service and true hospitality to Cleveland visitors, was awarded to Sherice Holmes, guest relations coordinator at Holiday Inn Cleveland Clinic.
Nominated by her supervisor, Holmes “goes above and beyond” to meet the needs of guests at Holiday Inn Cleveland Clinic. She continually develops ways to improve the guest experience – like her lemonade stand and hot chocolate bar at check-in – and strives to leave a positive impression on those who are staying at the hotel. Holmes often interacts with guests who are visiting the Cleveland Clinic, creates rapport with them and answers questions about transportation and directions and recommends places to go in Cleveland. One example of Holmes’ outstanding service was when she assisted a guest who had been through extensive doctor visits and tests. She became the go-to person for this visitor, taking care of problems, responding quickly to the guest’s concerns and even helping order the same mattress that the guest slept on at the hotel. Her supervisor said, “Making the guest smile during very difficult times can almost be impossible. But you can often see Sherice striving to do just that.”
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, transportation companies and more. Past winners and the description of their superior service can be viewed
here.
CLEVELAND CHAMPIONS AWARD
The
Cleveland Champions Award, which recognizes an individual for his or her effort to bring meetings and conventions to Cleveland, was awarded to Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams and Carolyn Williams, vice president of law enforcement at the Federal Reserve Bank, on behalf of the Greater Cleveland Chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE).
Chief Williams and Carolyn Williams played important roles in bringing the NOBLE’s Annual Training Conference to Cleveland in 2020. NOBLE has more than 3,000 members worldwide that represent chief executive officers and commend-level law enforcement officials from federal, state, county and municipal law enforcement agencies and criminal justice practitioners. As respected members of NOBLE, Chief Williams and Ms. Williams provided valuable insights about the organization when it came to the bid process and were key team members when the bid was presented to NOBLE’s board. They were also instrumental in collaborating with the City of Cleveland, the local chapter of NOBLE, Destination Cleveland and other partner organizations to show support for hosting this conference. The 2020 meeting in Cleveland will bring approximately 1,800 attendees with 4,000 total room nights. Scheduled for July 24-29, 2020, it is projected to generate an estimated economic impact of more than $2 million.
Destination Cleveland's current list of Cleveland Champions ranges from local CEOs to young professionals that 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.
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ABOUT DESTINATION CLEVELAND: Destination Cleveland is Cleveland’s destination marketing and management organization. This private, non-profit organization’s mission is to drive economic impact and stimulate community vitality for Greater Cleveland through leisure and business travel. Cleveland welcomes 19.2 million visitors annually. For more information, visit www.thisiscleveland.com.