Everyone enjoys recognition for a job well done, so 18 years ago the Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau (GSCVB) created the Howdy Awards for Hospitality Excellence. As Lee Chambers of the Bureau explains it, the Howdy Awards were established to recognize those frontline hospitality workers that are so essential to ensuing visitors to the Pioneer Valley have a...
Everyone enjoys recognition for a job well done, so 18 years ago the Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau (GSCVB) created the Howdy Awards for Hospitality Excellence.
As Lee Chambers of the Bureau explains it, the Howdy Awards were established to recognize those frontline hospitality workers that are so essential to ensuing visitors to the Pioneer Valley have a great experience while they're here.
This year the GSCVB is making a special effort to reach out to the general public during the nomination process. The Bureau's hope is that, while people are out and about enjoying the holiday season, they'll keep an eye out for those hospitality heroes that go beyond the call of duty to make each customer's experience a memorable one.
While the Bureau has distributed nomination ballets to some hotels, attractions, and restaurants, they're anxious to maximize the pool of potential awardees by widespread promotion of the nomination process itself.
It's easy to put someone up for a "Howdy," Chambers says. All that's necessary is a quick trip to the Bureau's website, valleyvisitor.com; a click on the "Howdy" logo on the homepage; and a few moments to fill out an online form that describes why a particular nominee deserves a "Howdy."
There's no charge to make a nomination, and seven different categories of workers (accommodations, attractions, beverage, food, public service, retail/business, and transportation) are recognized.
Final selection of award winners is made by a blue ribbon panel of judges from outside the region. Deadline for 2013 "Howdy" nominations is March 1.