WHAS 11 television news anchor Joe Arnold emceed the awards, and keynote speaker Mayor Greg Fischer lauded Louisville’s distinguished ranking as a top-tier destination spot for convention groups, tourists and specialty travelers intrigued with the City’s attractions, restaurants and cultural amenities. Nine front-line employees received the Recognition of Service Excellent (ROSE) Award for their exceptional work in six tourism categories – accommodations, attractions, behind-the scenes, dining, transportation and volunteers – and three tourism professionals were honored with outstanding achievement awards for their advancement of Louisville’s tourism industry. Also recognized during the ceremony were thirty-five individuals who received an Ambassador Award for their contributions to the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau’s sales initiatives that helped bring convention business to town.
Mayor Greg Fischer and LCVB President/CEO Jim Wood Award presented the six category recipients with a glass etched rose award designed by local artist Casey Hyland and local gift items that included a bottle of Four Roses Bourbon and a personalized Louisville Slugger bat. The three outstanding achievement recipients received a one-of-a-kind custom glass award shaped to represent its specific award title: the Dan Mangeot Award, the Unity Award and the Meeting Planner’s Choice Award.
The uniqueness of the ROSE Awards is in the recognition of hospitality heroes who work in non-supervisory positions and are one of the first faces visitors and convention goers see when they arrive in Louisville. The annual event promotes excellence in the industry and fosters the ongoing service of those who go above and beyond the call of duty to roll out the red carpet for Louisville’s 12.7 million annual guests.
While the 2013 ROSE Award recipients were noted by Mayor Greg Fischer for their “leadership, hospitality, caring and compassion,” the Louisville community-at-large is perhaps the biggest winner as it ranks among the top destinations in the country, and the travel and tourism business is the third largest service industry in Louisville, supporting more than 31,000 jobs and enjoying an economic impact of $1.4 billion annually.
A new member of the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau Partners Program and a sponsor of the 2013 ROSE Awards, Hatfield Media was there to capture the festivities on tape. Please join us in congratulating this year’s winners:
Accommodations – Andy Emby, 21c Museum Hotel
Behind-the-Scenes – Hassan Abdi, Hyatt Regency Louisville – Behind-the-Scenes
Dining – Marsha Whiteside, Hard Rock Café
Transportation – Ras Thomas, Yellow Cab
Volunteers – Ruth Marchand, Louisville Regional Airport Authority
John Shake, General Manager, Crowne Plaza Hotel – The Dan Mangeot Award for an individual who excels in the advancement of tourism and has a history of supporting the hospitality industry through his/her professional lifetime.
Tom O’Shea, Owner, Patrick O’Shea’s and O’Shea’s Irish Pubs – The Unity Award for outstanding achievement in the promotion of diversity in the hospitality industry.
Linda Edwards, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Kentucky State Fair Board (Kentucky Exposition Center and Kentucky International Convention Center) – The Meeting Planner’s Choice Award for an employee who embodies the spirit of hospitality and has provided an unforgettable experience to meeting and event organizers.
