St. Louis CVC Honors Hospitality Heroes, All-Stars and HSMAI Winners at Annual Meeting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information:

Anthony Paraino

314-992-0654 or pr@explorestlouis.com, or

Greg Severin

Lents & Associates

314-968-3060 or gseverin@lentsandassoc.com

ST. LOUIS CVC HONORS HOSPITALITY HEROES, ALL-STARS

AND HSMAI WINNERS AT ANNUAL MEETING

ST. LOUIS (Sept. 17, 2015) – Ten Hospitality Super Heroes were honored in the St. Louis region during the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission (CVC) 2015 Annual Meeting Luncheon and Hospitality Hero Recognition Program held Thursday, Sept. 17 in the Ferrara Theatre at America’s Center.

The event was attended by more than 700 guests, including numerous dignitaries, local government leaders and business people from a wide range of hospitality-related industries.

Developed to stimulate and reward exceptional service provided by hospitality industry employees, the St. Louis CVC’s Hospitality Hero Recognition Program honors front line workers who best exemplify the region’s ongoing commitment to great service. Nominations were solicited from management of hospitality industry companies and judged by a panel of customer service experts. The 2015 Hospitality Super Heroes are:

• Denise Alfred, Drury Inn & Suites Convention Center
• Flora Franklin, Patty Long Catering
• Christina Roberts, Patty Long Catering
• Claire St. Pierre, Patty Long Catering
• Vatrina Strong, Patty Long Catering
• Karen Krispin, Maryland Heights Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Shawket Barwary, The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis
• Judy Trask, Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel
• Tim Wesemann, St. Louis Cardinals
• Jeremiah Essmeyer, St. Louis Union Station Hotel, A DoubleTree by Hilton

In addition, the Convention & Visitors Commission also honored community and business partners who served as exceptional collaborators in assisting St. Louis CVC in gaining business and advancing projects. The Hospitality All-Stars are:

Reinvest North County Initiative - Kathleen Osborn (Regional Business Council).

STL Forward Initiative – Johnny Little, Nicole Hudson, Aaron Perlut, Dave Collett, Samuel Murphey and Thomas Pagano.

American Bus Association Marketplace Partners and Sponsors - The Fabulous Fox Theatre; Six Flags St. Louis; The Gateway Arch; Ballpark Village; St. Louis Cardinals; Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis; Grand Center, Inc.; International Photography Hall of Fame; Jazz St. Louis; Moto Museum; The Sheldon Concert Hall & Art Galleries; Missouri Division of Tourism; Drury Hotels; Saint Louis Zoo; Discover St. Louis; Vandalia Bus Lines; Missouri History Museum; Maryland Heights Convention & Visitors Bureau; The National Black Tourism Network; and STAGES St. Louis.

Additionally, HSMAI (Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International Missouri Chapter) honored deserving innovators and trailblazers with its Hospitality Awards. Winners were:

• Brian Hall, St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission
• Ginnie Westmoreland, Saint Louis Zoo
• Tom Lyons, Lodging Hospitality Management
• Ryan McClure, City/Arch/River
• Tami Goldman, Missouri History Museum
• Casey and Justin Roth, Taze’ Mediterranean Street Food
• J. Kim Tucci, The Pasta House Co.

The St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission (CVC) is the sales and marketing organization responsible for marketing St. Louis City and St. Louis County as a convention and meeting site and as a leisure travel destination. In addition, the CVC manages and operates the America’s Center Convention Complex®, which includes 502,000 square feet of prime exhibit space, a 28,000 square-foot ballroom, the 67,000-seat Edward Jones Dome, the 1,400-seat Ferrara Theatre and the St. Louis Executive Conference Center. For more information, visit www.explorestlouis.com.

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Images from the Annual Meeting are available for downloading at: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/jg8eez9e3lxomar/AABmuCC89P2Qoa2oWQM9wyeRa?dl=0

Photo Captions

Photo #1 – During the 2015 Annual Meeting of the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission, Kathleen Osborn of the Regional Business Council (center) receives an All Star Award for her creation of the Reinvest North County Initiative from Andrew Leonard, chair of the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission (left) and Kitty Ratcliffe, president of the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission (right).

Photo #2 – At the Annual Meeting of the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission, J. Kim Tucci, president of the Pasta House Co. (center) is presented with the ‘Friend of Hospitality Award’ from the Missouri Chapter of Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI). Also pictured are Brian Hall, CMO of the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission (left) and Jené Stewart, president of the Missouri Chapter of HSMAI and also market manager for Expedia Lodging Services.

Photo #3 – The 2015 Hospitality Super Heroes are honored at the Annual Meeting of the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission on Sept. 17, 2015 at America’s Center.

Photo #4– Julie Cardia of STAGES St. Louis performs at the Annual Meeting of the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission on Sept. 17, 2015 at America’s Center.