Stone Bridge Farms’ Ron Foust received the Tourism Professional of the Year Award at Thursday’s Cullman Area Tourism Awards. Foust is pictured with Tourism Executive Committee Vice-Chair Katie Fine, left, and Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Leah Bolin, right. (Nick Griffin for The Tribune)
CULLMAN – The Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce handed out its 2018 Cullman Area Tourism Awards Thursday morning.
According to the chamber, “In conjunction with the celebration of the Alabama Bicentennial (Alabama 200), this year’s theme was ‘Cullman People,’ which was observed with commemorative fans spotlighting 20 men and women who’ve helped put the Cullman area on the map over the years.”
The event, held at Stone Bridge Farms was a lively breakfast and was kicked off by 2018 Chamber Chair Susan Copeland and Director of Tourism, Roger Steele.
Steele spoke about some of the plans for the tourism department going forward. Steele and the chamber’s plans include ideas for using Smith Lake as an even bigger part of Cullman’s tourism industry, religious tourism stemming from attractions like Ave Maria Grotto and the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, agricultural tourism, sports tourism and more.
Tourism Chair Sandy Harris presented this year’s awards.
The Exceptional Festival or Event Award recognizes a festival or event that attracts visitors as well as locals, generates regional and/or state media attention and positively promotes the Cullman area. This year’s award went to Cullman Oktoberfest.
The Best Attraction Award recognizes a regional attraction (including museums, performing arts, parks, amusement parks, etc.) which attracts visitors and contributes to an outstanding tourism experience and was awarded to Skydive Alabama.
The Rockin’ Retailer Award recognizes a retailer that provides an outstanding shopping experience for visitors and was presented to Werner’s Trading Company.
The Extraordinary Everyday Eatery recognizes a restaurant offering an atmosphere that provides an outstanding experience for visitors; this year’s award went to Rumor’s Deli.
Moving on to individual awards, The White Glove Award recognizes exceptional service from an individual hotel housekeeping staff member. La Quinta Inn and Suites’ Tonia Duke took the prize.
The Silver Spoon Award recognizes consistent superior service by a restaurant or food service employee. Mae’s Food Hall’s Strada di Napoli’s Zach Chanin was the winner.
The Savvy Retail Sales Associate Award recognizes excellent customer service from a retail sales associate who has first contact with the public; this year’s winner was Phillip Hicks of Mr. Hicks Mens Wear.
The final award of this year’s ceremony, The Tourism Professional of the Year Award, recognizes a person who has made a significant contribution to the tourism industry through more than five years or more of innovation, inspiration and industry leadership. This year’s award went to Stone Bridge’s own Ron Foust.
Chamber President and CEO Leah Bolin made a special presentation to Cullman County Museum Curator and member of the chamber’s tourism board, Elaine Fuller.
“I would like to honor one specific individual who has meant so much, not only to promoting tourism in our area, but also just promoting our community around the state. Elaine Fuller, the longtime director of the Cullman County Museum and also a current member of our tourism board will be retiring from her position very soon,” Bolin said. “In honor of her service, we would like to present her with a token of our appreciation with this original brick-paver from the streets of Cullman. We felt this was a most appropriate gift because through the years Elaine has built a solid foundation for tourism in our area and built a foundation for others to follow in her footsteps.”
Bolin concluded, “The tourism industry is a hard industry, you work long hours and sometimes you work with ungrateful people. I know you’re not used to that in the hospitality industry, but we just want you to know that you are appreciated, that you mean a lot to the Cullman area and we know how much you bring in as far as economic impact. You have exceeded our expectations for tourism in Cullman County this year and we look forward to an even better year going forward.”
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