ROCK SPRINGS – While the stars of the show usually get the praise and the accolades, there are always many people behind the scenes who make it possible. Many times, these people go unnoticed and unappreciated. This past weekend, those unsung heros in the tourism business were honored at the REACH awards.

The seventh annual REACH awards were hosted by the Sweetwater County Joint Travel and Tourism Board in an effort to salute outstanding customer service provided by employees in tourism and hospitality industries who celebrate and enhance Sweetwater County’s reputation as a first-class visitor destination.

Jenissa Bartlett, Director of Sweetwater County Joint Travel and Tourism, spoke about the importance of tourism to the county and the state. She said the travel industry ranks as the second largest industry in Wyoming generating $3.1 billion in travel expenditures in 2013. Tourism also supported over 30,000 jobs. In Sweetwater County, travel and tourism generated $183 million in total direct spending and supported almost 1,500 jobs.

This event takes place during National Tourism Week. Bartlett called those honored as the “backbone” on the tourism industry. She said without the customer service and hospitality these local workers provide, travelers would not come back to this area.

The guest speaker of the night, Wyoming’s Tourism Director Diane Shober reiterated the numbers Bartlett spoke about earlier. She explained without the sales tax from the tourism industry, each resident would pay about $550 more in sales tax a year.

Shober spoke about current marketing strategies especially in bigger markets such as Chicago and the West Coast. She also spoke about marketing to closer markets at home. Shober said instead of focusing on the big sites and attractions, marketing campaigns will focus on what there is to do in Wyoming.

Shober also honored Rock Springs hotels which were recently honored within their corporations. The first is the Hampton Inn of Rock Springs. Hampton Hotels, Hilton Worldwide’s global brand of more than 1,900 mid-priced Hampton Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, and Hampton by Hilton hotels, announced Hampton Inn Rock Springs as the 2013 Circle of Excellence Award winner. The award places the hotel, located at 1901 Dewar Drive, as one of the top Hampton properties in terms of service and growing customer loyalty.

The 2013 Circle of Excellence Award was presented by Hilton Worldwide to the Hampton Inn in Rock Springs for performing in the top 10 percent of the Hampton brand based on Total Quality Scores.  The hotel is owned and operated by Timberline Hospitalities, LLC.  Timberline is a Wyoming owned and operated hotel company.

The second hotel honored was the Homewood Suites by Hilton of Rock Springs.The recipients of the Connie Pride Award, named after Conrad Hilton, are considered the most esteemed group of award winners within the Hilton organization. The purpose of these awards is to recognize hotels performing within the top ten percent of the Hilton brand, as measured in various categories. Cleanliness, condition, adherence to brand standards, staff service (as indicated by customer satisfaction scores), and the quality of the hotel’s physical accommodations are all factored in. Hotels receiving the award are presented with a trophy, a monetary prize, and special recognition during a series of regional brand meetings.

2014 REACH Awards

 

Best Reservations/Guest Services Personnel

Winner – Betty Mcvay – Best Western Outlaw Inn

 

Nominees

Holly Abram – La Quinta

Jessi Adkinson – Hampton Inn Rock Springs

Kim Allen – Sweetwater County Airport

Shane Carrillo – Holiday Inn

Cristy Disano – Open Range Restaurant at the Best Western Outlaw Inn

Julia Gotfredson – Quality Inn

Rosie Hughes – Hampton Inn Rock Springs

Pat Hutchinson – Holiday Inn (Nominated by the Rock Springs URA)

Letty Jewkes – Hampton Inn and Suites in Green River

Ali Menegassi – Homewood Suites

Betty Mcvay – Best Western Outlaw Inn

Victoria Wetzel – Holiday Inn Express

 

Best Housekeeping Personnel

Winner – Lorena Perez-Segura – Homewood Suites

Nominees

Marianna Chaverna – La Quinta Inn

Terry Davenport – Holiday Inn Express

Leslie Elliot – Holiday Inn

Adriana Felix – Hampton Inn in Rock Springs

Jose Jauregui – Best Western Outlaw Inn

Maria Lopez – Best Western Outlaw Inn

Jessica McGahuey – Hampton Inn in Rock Springs

Adriana Munoz – Hampton Inn in Rock Springs

Lorena Perez-Segura – Homewood Suites

Daniella Ramirez – Quality Inn

Lilia Rodriguez – Hampton Inn and Suites in Green River

Dolores Saavedra – Best Western Outlaw Inn

 

Comment Card Recipients

Cristy Disano – Best Western Outlaw Inn

Roberto Hernandez – Best Western Outlaw Inn

Sandra Kirkwood – LaQuinta Inn

Shirley Long – Hampton Inn Rock Springs

Betty Mcvay – Best Western Outlaw Inn

Rosie Hill – Holiday Inn Express

 

Sweetwater County Tourism Cheerleader Award

Winner – Catherine Duncombe – Green River Parks & Rec Dept

Nominees

Chad Banks- Rock Springs URA

Kate Dobler – Sweetwater Events Complex

Catherine Duncombe – Green River Parks & Recreation Dept

Kandi Pendelton – Sweetwater Events Complex

 

Employee of the Year

Winner – Roberto Hernandez – Open Range Restaurant at the Best Western Outlaw Inn

Nominees

Vickie Bostick – Rock Springs URA

German Carrera – LaQuinta Inn

Tamara Creager – Loaf n Jug

Roberto Hernandez – Open Range Restaurant at the Best Western Outlaw Inn

Shirley Long – Hampton Inn Rock Springs

Jesus Martinez – Holiday Inn Express

Betty McVay – Best Western Outlaw Inn

Alice Paul – Rock Springs URA

David Schmidt – Holiday Inn

Mary Waterman – Quality Inn

 

Business of the Year

Winner – The Wild Calls

Nominees

Bi Rite/Sweet Sage

Loaf & Jug

Rock Springs Bike & Trike

Rock Springs URA

The Wild Calls

 

Tourism Industry Partner of the Year
Winner – Rowdy Muir – Ashley National Forest

 

Top 5 Hotels of TripAdvisor

Homewood Suites by Hilton of Rock Springs

Hampton Inn of Rock Springs

Hampton Inn & Suites of Green River

Holiday Inn of Rock Springs

Comfort Inn & Suites of Rock Springs