Hospitality industry professionals were honored on Thursday, May 14 as the stars of local tourism at the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau’s 2009 P.R.I.D.E. (Proud Residents Involved in Developing our Economy) Awards Gala.

The event showcased some of the leading efforts of the more than 11,000 tourism industry employees in Caddo and Bossier Parishes who sell tourism each day with their smiles, Southern charm and eagerness to go above and beyond to satisfy customers and visitors.

The purpose of the evening event is to recognize the leading efforts of hospitality employees who go above and beyond to demonstrate superior work ethics and customer service.

Employees are nominated by their co-workers and industry peers. A secret committee judges the applications and selects the top three nominees in each category.

The following is a list of the P.R.I.D.E. Award nominees and overall winners:

Outstanding Hotel Executive – Full Service was Cheryl Casey, Holiday Inn Bossier; Outstanding Hotel Executive – Limited Service wasJeff Rogers, Southern Host Hospitality; Outstanding Hotel Sales Professional was Heather Acor, Holiday Inn Bossier; Outstanding Hotel Front Desk/Guest Service Professional – Full Service was Dolly Wood, Horseshoe Casino & Hotel; Outstanding Hotel Front Desk/Guest Service Professional – Limited Service was Tawanya Oliver, Quality Inn & Suites; Outstanding Housekeeping Professional - Full Service was Roderick Perry, DiamondJacks Casino; Outstanding Housekeeping Professional - Limited Service was Ada Smith, Courtyard by Marriott; Outstanding Food Server was Allen Mizell, Horseshoe Casino; Outstanding Banquet Professional was  Linda Mason, of Holiday Inn West; Outstanding Transportation Professional was Mark Mitchell, Red River Coaches; Outstanding Attraction Professional of the Year was Mark Crawford, Louisiana Boardwalk.

Noncompetitive honors in recognition of Friends of the Hospitality and Tourism Industry included: The Spirit of Louisiana Award — Captain Sam Flood — accepted on his behalf by Sandy Jackson, Sam’s best friend and present captain of the Spirit of the Red River; Event of the Year - Bassmaster Classic 2009.

New Hotels Recognized included Towne Place Suites by Marriott, Springhill Suites at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs, Homewood Suites, Value Place, Hilton Garden Inn, Quality Inn – Shreveport, Candlewood Suites, Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites Shreveport West

New Festivals Recognized were Lead Belly Blues Festival – Held May 9 at Festival Plaza and the Red River Rumble – June 5-7 at Festival Plaza.

Media Friend of the Industry was LAMAR Advertising; Convention Friends of the Industry were Omega Psi Phi, Harley Owner’s Group Rally, American Water Works Association, Air Force Retired Sergeants Annual Meeting, Southwestern Ice Association

Friends of the Industry were

Mary Dunn, Panderina Soumas, Ike Wheeler, Shreveport Parks and Recreation and Robinson Film Center.
Excellent Communication Awards went to Shreveport-Bossier Fun Guide –Wendy Benscoter has been tireless in her efforts to make the Shreveport-Bossier Fun Guide.

New Attractions included TNT Express and Stirling Bossier.

Attraction of the Year. Bass Pro Shops – Recently, Bass Pro Shops at the Louisiana Boardwalk was named the Bass Pro Shops Store of the Year out of 54 stores. Some of the Bass Pro Shops accomplishments include: the Santa Wonderland in November and December. This was the single largest promotional investment in the company’s history. More than 20,000 photos were taken.

Tourism Champion – Awarded to tourist bureau President Stacy Brown.

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