FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Kate Wiltzer - Grand Rapids/Kent County Convention &Visitors Bureau
616-233-3558 |
kwiltzer@visitgrandrapids.org
2009 WAVE Awards Winners Announced
Presentation of Awards Set for November 12 During Opening Night
of Grand Rapids International Wine & Food Festival
Grand Rapids, MI – October 19, 2009 - The Grand Rapids/Kent County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) and the Kent County Lodging Association (KCLA) have announced the 2009 winners of their 2nd Annual WAVE Awards – a program which recognizes outstanding service providers in the Grand Rapids and Kent County hospitality industry. This year’s program is presented in part by Nichols and Proctor & Gamble.
Twenty-eight individuals were nominated online between April and September, by both guests and their employers. At that time, the judging panel evaluated the nominees in their respective categories and scored on a set of criteria including the individual’s attitude, attentiveness, performance, knowledge and consistency within the local hospitality industry. Six winners selected in the categories of Attraction, Dining, Lodging, Nightlife, Retail and Transportation.
Winners for 2009 include:
• Attraction: Annemarie Smartz – Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
• Dining (Sponsored by Kent Beverage): Anthony Rhodes – Applebee’s
• Lodging (Sponsored by Kent County Lodging Association): Apryl Sweet – Comfort Suites
• Nightlife: Matt Alles – Z’s Bar & Restaurant
• Retail: Catherine Deppa – Starbucks at Amway Grand Plaza Hotel
• Transportation: Ed Dean – Regal Limousine
“The Grand Rapids/Kent County Convention & Visitors Bureau, on behalf of our area’s hospitality industry, works extremely hard at developing a strong brand image for our destination,” says Doug Small, President of the Grand Rapids / Kent County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “As you know, a brand is not just a name or a logo, rather a promise to deliver. A large part of our brand strategy is to ensure that visitors to Grand Rapids and Kent County will be provided with only the absolute best visitor services. Those being honored at the 2009 WAVE Awards are prime examples of those that deliver on that promise. Because of these wonderful service providers, our team can confidently continue our mission to deliver the Grand Rapids brand to prospective visitors and meeting executives nationally. Congratulations to the winners and the nominees…you all deserve a medal of honor and we are grateful for your service to our industry.”
The WAVE winners and a guest, along with their employer, will be formally recognized during a special ceremony at 4 o’clock p.m. on Thursday, November 12 at the Grand Rapids International Wine & Food Festival in the Steelcase Ballroom at DeVos Place, downtown. Eva Aguirre Cooper from WOOD TV 8 will host the ceremony, which will take place on the Meijer stage. The community’s “Hometown Heroes” will also be recognized by the CVB during the ceremony for advocating and helping to bring their respective conventions to Grand Rapids (www.bringittograndrapids.com).
Following the ceremony, the WAVE winners and their guest, will be treated to a special three-course “Pairing” dinner at the festival. These six winners will also be nominated in their respective category for the Stars of the Industry Awards at the 2010 “Driving Michigan Tourism Conference” – the annual industry gathering of tourism and lodging leaders, hosted by the Michigan Lodging & Tourism Association and Travel Michigan. That conference will be held May 5-7 at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.
Nominations for 2010 will open in April and will run through early September. Winners next year will again be recognized in conjunction with the Wine & Food Festival. Details about the program are available at www.waveaward.com.
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