Stars of the City shine at annual celebration of customer service excellence
[Source: Ottawa Tourism press release]
Over 400 tourism industry insiders will gather tonight at an event at the Algonquin College School of Hospitality & Tourism to celebrate the achievements of front-line staff during the 16th annual Ottawa Tourism Stars of the City Recognition Evening.
DETAILS
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Main Dining Room, Building D, Algonquin College, 1385 Woodroffe Avenue
6:30 p.m. — Reception
7:00 p.m. — Dinner
8:30 p.m. — Awards presentation begins
Approx. 9:50 p.m. — Star of the City 2011 announced
A total of 1,052 nominations were received from residents and visitors to the region over the past year, nominating front-line staff from 89 businesses for their real-life examples of excellence in customer service. Everyone who is nominated as a Star of the City will receive a gold “star” lapel pin, a symbol of customer service excellence here in Ottawa and Canada’s Capital Region.
An independent panel of judges comprised of industry leaders decided among 22 finalists to award the ultimate “Star of the City 2011” as well as winners in the following 8 categories.
Finalists for the 2011 Stars of the City Recognition Evening!
[Source: Ottawa Tourism press release]
Between September 1st, 2010 and August 31st 2011, 1052 nominations were submitted to Ottawa Tourism, citing real-life examples of excellence in customer service. From these nominations finalists have been chosen in several categories. The complete list of finalists is attached and can also be found at http://www.starsofthecity.ca/recognition.htm or http://www.starsofthecity.ca/recognition_f.htm
Join the tourism industry in celebrating all the nominees, finalists and award winners at this year’s Recognition Evening on Wednesday, October 26th at Algonquin College.
STARS RECOGNITION EVENING TICKETS will go on sale early next week.
Thank you to all of the front-line staff for making sure that Ottawa and Canada’s Capital Region shines as a destination.
Stars of the City shine at annual celebration of customer service excellence
A total of 1,250 nominations were received from residents and visitors to the region over the past year, nominating front-line staff from 81 businesses for their real-life examples of excellence in customer service. Everyone who is nominated as a Star of the City will receive a gold “star” lapel pin, a symbol of customer service excellence here in Ottawa and Canada’s Capital Region.
An independent panel of judges comprised of industry leaders decided among 24 finalists to award the ultimate “Star of the City 2010” as well as winners in the following 8 categories.
Ottawa Tourism event celebrates local customer service stars: Stars of the City program recognizes outstanding achievement from front-line staff
Approximately 420 local tourism industry insiders will gather on the evening of Wednesday, October 27 at Algonquin College’s School of Hospitality & Tourism to celebrate the achievements of front-line staff at the 15th annual Stars of the City Recognition Evening.
Winners will be announced from among 24 finalists in 8 award categories and one ultimate “Star of the City 2010” will be named at the end of the evening. A total of 1,250 nominations were received from residents and visitors to the region over the past year, representing front-line staff from 81 businesses. A list of finalists and award sponsors can be found at www.starsofthecity.ca/recognition.htm
“Ottawa Tourism, through its Stars of the City program, recognizes, motivates and encourages our front-line colleagues—including desk clerks, concierges, servers, guides and others—to leave our visitors ‘wowed,’ as it’s their individual and collective efforts that can turn a good vacation into a great one,” says Noel Buckley, President and CEO of Ottawa Tourism.
Ottawa Tourism is able to administer and promote the Stars of the City program thanks to the participation of various sponsors. “We are grateful to the Stars of the City sponsors that share our belief in the importance of excellence in customer service,” says Buckley. “Ottawa Tourism simply could not run the Stars program without their support.”
Category winners receive a beautiful award along with a $250 gift certificate courtesy of the Rideau Centre. The overall 2010 Star of the City receives another $250 gift certificate from the Rideau Centre and an all-inclusive trip for two to the sunny south courtesy of the Ottawa Gatineau Hotel Association.
The venue sponsor, Algonquin College, School of Hospitality and Tourism, involves many students—enrolled in the Chef Training, Culinary Management, Bartending, Sommelier, Hotel and Restaurant Management, and Event Planning programs—in the production of the event and professors and support staff also contribute its success.
Each spring, a Star of the City Conference and Trade Show provides a half-day of customer service training coupled with a trade show to highlight new products and experiences in the local tourism industry.
Ottawa Tourism provides destination marketing, strategic direction and leadership in cooperation with members and partners to service the travel media and attract visitors, tours and conventions to Ottawa and Canada’s Capital Region. Its vision is to build recognition of Ottawa as an outstanding four-season tourism destination.
Stars of The City 2010 FINALISTS / FINALISTES 2010
WHAT’S LOST IS FOUND
CE QUI EST PERDU… EST RETROUVÉ
Sponsored by / Commandité par:
Rideau Centre
Ebrahim Hamid-Saaed – West Way Taxi – Ottawa
International Airport Authority
Nikki O’Reilly – Westin Ottawa
Karen Robinson – ICE Currency Exchange – Ottawa
International Airport Authority
ABOVE & BEYOND
AU-DELÀ DES ATTENTES
Sponsored by / Commandité par:
Algonquin College
Roxanne Dompierre – Casino du Lac-Leamy
Kamalesh Kasinathan – Holiday Inn & Suites Ottawa-Kanata
Napolean Vargas – Westin Ottawa Read more
Stars of the City
HELP US RECOGNIZE THE UNSUNG HEROES
NOMINATE A VOLUNTEER IN OTTAWA’S TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY
If a volunteer at an Ottawa event, festival or attraction goes out of their way to make your day, nominate them for the Stars of the City GOOD CITIZEN AWARD.
Simply visit the Stars of the City website to submit your nomination.
Ottawa Tourism prepares the “Stars of the City”
Front-line staff and managers undergo customer service training at the Canada Science and Technology Museum
OTTAWA, April 21, 2010—Ottawa Tourism hosts its annual Stars of the City conference and trade show on Tuesday, April 27 between 8:00am and 4:30pm at the Canada Science and Technology Museum. Over 200 front-line tourism and hospitality staff are expected for the event, consisting of two half-day professional development sessions. A trade show featuring local tourism products, services, festivals and attractions will be held between the two sessions.
“The Stars of the City conference shares valuable customer service tips with front-line tourism staff, helping to ensure a memorable experience for visitors to our region,” says Noel Buckley, President and CEO of Ottawa Tourism. “Those who attend will also learn about new and existing tourism products for the 2010 season.”
Each half-day session kicks off with a presentation by Misty Wade Hovey, Communications Manager for Ottawa Tourism, who will share some fun facts and trivia about Canada’s Capital Region. Paul Huschilt, a professional storyteller and trainer, will continue with his presentation entitled “Seven Humour Habits for Workplace Wellness.”
Registration is $40 per person for Ottawa Tourism member organizations and $50 for non-members.
SCHEDULE
Canada Science and Technology Museum, 1867 St. Laurent Boulevard
Morning session 8:00am-11:30am
Trade show 11:30am-1:00pm
Afternoon session 1:00-4:30pm
We suggest attending sometime between 11:30am and 1:00pm to experience the trade show and meet attendees, including Noel Buckley, President and CEO of Ottawa Tourism and Sampson Nabigon of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, the 2009 Star of the City.
The Stars of the City program will also launch its new creative look at the conference, with revised posters and promotional material available at the Stars of the City booth at the trade show.
The Stars of the City program also includes a recognition program. Local visitors and tourists to Canada’s Capital Region can nominate staff who provide exceptional service during their visit. Nomination forms are available online or at participating establishments, including hotels, restaurants and attractions. Each October, a Recognition Evening is held to celebrate the industry and to choose an overall winner among all the nominees.
Ottawa Tourism provides industry leadership and destination marketing to service the travel media and attract visitors, tours and conventions to Ottawa and Canada’s Capital Region. Visit Ottawa Tourism at www.ottawatourism.ca.
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For more information, please contact:
Jantine Van Kregten
Director of Communications, Ottawa Tourism
613-237-5150, ext. 116
