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 Kansas City, MO. – The Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association (KCCVA) today announced the winners of the Kansas City Hospitality Awards at the organization’s Annual Tourism Celebration. The event was held Tuesday in the Kansas City Convention Center’s Grand Ballroom.
The three awards honor contributions that individuals or groups that have made to the Kansas City tourism industry. The winners are as follows:
Gold Star Award
This is a new award this year that honors a Certified Tourism Ambassador who has worked to promote the ideals of the Heartland Tourism Ambassador program. This individual must possess a great knowledge of the city and its attractions, provide exemplary customer service and work hard to make visitors want to return to Kansas City.
Jane Kincaid, President and CEO of Crowd Systems, Inc.
Jane is a life-long Kansas Citian whose first job in college was as a concession worker. She has been in the tourism industry for more than 30 years, working for many years as a promoter's representative for concerts, sporting events and family shows. She became the owner of Crowd Systems in 1991. Her company provides event staffing for convention and entertainment events. She has labored long and hard to have “event staff” recognized in the same category as other hospitality positions. She knows the importance of good service and demands no less than the best for each event. She became a Certified Tourism Ambassador back in June 2006 and is always an advocate for Kansas City. Her leadership empowers those around her to produce the highest level of service possible
Pistilli Service Excellence Award
This award honors a hospitality manager who started in the trenches of our industry. This award recognizes an individual who consistently provides exemplary service, leadership and professionalism while taking care of our visitors.
Beth Muelhhauser, Director of Security for the Hyatt Regency Crown Center
This year’s recipient is a true team player. Twenty years ago, she started as a security dispatcher for the Hyatt Regency Crown Center. She quickly became known as someone you can count on. If housekeeping needs a room serviced, she is there. If guest services needs a bag pulled, she is there. She has worked her way up through the security ranks and is now the hotel’s Director of Security. She is consistently being singled out by guests and her peers. She has accolades in her file from guests, company officials, and even the Secret Service. And she is the only manager at the hotel to have won the “Manager of the Year” award twice. She truly loves her job and it shows in the way she goes above and beyond every day.
One KC Award
This award is given to an individual or group that builds regional cooperation and support of tourism initiatives. The recipient shows true community vision and has enhanced the regional partnership of our community by breaking the boundaries and working across community and state lines.
Alton Hagen, CMP, Founder and General Manager of AGENDA: Kansas City
Alton has been in the hospitality industry for more than 30 years, beginning as a Tour Manager leading special interest groups to destinations throughout the world. In 1987, he began his company that today is a full-service Destination Management company. He was one of the first 200 meeting professionals in the world to receive the Certified Meeting Professional designation. He is consistently promoting the Kansas City region to anyone that will listen, both inside and outside the tourism industry. He believes strongly in supporting organizations that support our industry and has served on the boards of countless area organizations including the KCCVA and the Overland Park Convention and Visitors Bureau.
About the KCCVA
The Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to enhance economic growth and quality of life for the region and its residents through marketing, sales and service for the convention and tourism industries. For more information about all there is to see and do in Kansas City, visit the organization’s Web site at VisitKC.com.
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Photo Credit: Photos Courtesy of the Kansas City Convention
& Visitors Association
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Downtown Skyline
Caption: More than 1.8 million people live in the Kansas City area. This image is not available for download.
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Hyatt Regency Crown Center, exterior
Caption: The recently renovated Hyatt Regency Crown Center offers 731 guest rooms.
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