Thursday, 13 May, 2010 7:41
by pat
The annual PRIDE (Proud Residents Involved in Developing our Economy) Banquet was held last night from 6:30-9 p.m. at the Horseshoe Casino Riverdome. The elegant event was the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau’s chance to say thank you to thousands of people that make this area a true tourist destination. The PRIDE Awards Banquet was one event put on by the bureau in order to clebrate Tourism Awareness Month.
The Hospitality/Tourism Industry employs some 37,100 people in the Shreveport-Bossier area. The PRIDE Banquet is held every year in order to honor the frontline people - the heart of the tourism industry - in front of their hospitality peers.
“We are so very proud of our industry,” said Stacy Brown, bureau president. “They are the reason, why Shreveport-Bossier is the number two destination in the state and our popularity continues to rise with the leisure tourists, conventioneers and film makers.
An estimated 300 people attended the banquet to see the following recipients receive their awards.
New Hotels:
• VALUE PLACE – Bossier City
• SLEEP INN – Shreveport
• HAMPTON INN – Millicent Way - Ala
• COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT – Louisiana Boardwalk
Communications Friends of the Industry:
• FERTITTA’S DELICATESSEN – Agatha McCall
• WINE COUNTRY – Michael Brady
Convention Friends of the Industry:
• ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA – Burnadine Moss Anderson & Evelyn Valore
• KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS – Ed Twohig
• CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATION INSTITUTE – Deanie Galloway
• GULF COAST ASSOCIATION GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY – Scott Caswell
• LOUISIANA MATH & SCIENCE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION – Jan Graff & Jean Ware
Tourism Friends of the Industry:
• USSSA (Super NIT) – Frank Griffin
• SHREVEPORT CAPTAINS – Craig Brasfield
• DRAGONBOAT RACE – John Coutret
• USA WEIGHTLIFTING DEVELOPMENT CENTER at LSUS – Kyle Pierce
• USFA (Memorial Day Tournament) – Bobby Hair
• R.S.V.P. – Teresa Micheels
• Chesapeake
• Encana
• Petrohawk
• SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER FILM OFFICE: Arlena Acree & Pam Glorioso
• MILLENNIUM STUDIOS: Diego Martinez
• FLY BRANSON: Shreveport Airport Authority –Bill Cooksey
Media Friend of the Industry:
Maggie Martin
New Event of the Year:
PUB CRAWL:
• Downtown Development Authority – Don Shea
• SRAC/ArtSpace – Bonne Sommers
• HappyHour.com-Richard Raley
• Shreveport Parks & Recreation – Shelly Ragle
BREW:
• Downtown Shreveport Unlimited-Melanie Bacon
• Red River Revel-Kip Holloway
City Wide Event of the Year:
MARDI GRAS SEASON 2010
• Krewe of Aesclepius – Doug Kochenderfer
• Krewe of Centaur – Dana Bridges
• Krewe of Gemini – Chris Stansell
• Krewe of Highland – Bob Marak
• Krewe of Harambee – Verna Smith
• Krewe of Sobek – Cassandra Smith
In Recognition of your special support of the kiosk on THE “BOOM OR BUST” BY-WAY: Dr. Stephen Taylor, Mayor of Vivian & Dale Barnett, Mayor of Plain Dealing
LEGEND OF THE INDUSTRY – Forest Dunn – LA State Exhibit Museum
HOTEL EXECUTIVE – Barry Regula – Boomtown
HOTEL EXECUTIVE - Inki Shaver – Holiday Inn Express West
OUTSTANDING ATTRACTIONS PROFESSIONAL – Chris Jay – Robinson Film Center
OUTSTANDING PERFORMING ARTS PROFESSIONAL – Jamie Killeen – Shreveport Little Theatre
HOTEL SALES PROFESSIONAL (Full Service) – Jodee Minter
HOTEL SALES PROFESSIONAL – (Limited Service) – Allison Young – Homewood Suites
HOTEL FRONT DESK PROFESSIONAL –(Full Service)–Margarita Royal – Holiday Inn Bossier City
HOTEL FRONT DESK PROFESSIONAL – (Limited Service) – Susie Gillen – Holiday Inn Express West
(TIE) HOTEL BANQUET PROFESSIONAL –
• Venita Taylor – DiamondJacks
• Andrew Hamilton – Sams Town
(TIE) OUTSTANDING FOOD SERVER –
• Dexer Huewit – Horseshoe
• Tina Randall – Holiday Inn West
OUSTANDING HOUSEKEEPING PROFESSIONAL – (Full Service) – Janice Harris – Hilton
OUTSTANDING HOUSEEEPING PROFESSIONAL (Limited Service) – Mary Rachal – Microtel
OUTSTANDING MAINTENANCE PROFESSIONAL –
Tensey Jackson – LA Boardwalk
(TIE)OUTSTANDING VALET/BELLMAN/GIFT SHOP PROFESSIONAL
• Randall McMillen – Hilton
• Christopher Crochet – Boomtown
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