May 16, 2005

Hospitality workers honoured at You’re Welcome Edmonton Awards

Greater Edmonton’s most outstanding tourism and hospitality workers were in the spotlight tonight at the 5th Annual You’re Welcome Edmonton Awards at the Winspear Centre.

“This was their night and they deserve it,” says Ken Fiske, Edmonton Economic Development Corp.’s (EEDC’s) Vice-President in charge of Edmonton Tourism. “This program is about recognizing the front-line tourism and hospitality industry staff who go above and beyond in customer service to ensure visitors and residents receive the best service in Canada.”

Awards were presented in 15 categories. The winners (including ties in three categories) are:

Outstanding Banquet Server: Ngoc Tot Vo, Shaw Conference Centre
Outstanding Bartender: Andy Young, Ramada Hotel and Conference Centre
Outstanding Driver: Laddie Siracky, Sky Shuttle Laidlaw
Outstanding Food Services: Chi Ta, The Sutton Place Hotel
Outstanding Formal Server: Manfred Kuester, Fantasyland Hotel
Outstanding Guest Services: Eden Assefaw, The Sutton Place Hotel; Kate Marchessault, Northlands Park; Alissa Miller, Delta Edmonton South Hotel
Outstanding Heart of House: Grace Szmidt, Delta Edmonton Centre Suite Hotel
Outstanding Host/ess: Debra De Clercq, Maggie's Home West Edmonton B & B
Outstanding Informal Server: Everard Woods, The Sutton Place H
Outstanding Meeting or Event Services: Monita Chapman, Delta Edmonton Centre Suite Hotel Outstanding Reservations Agent: Leah Coderre, Mayfield Travel
Outstanding Retail Services: Jody Gress, United Cycle

Outstanding Tour Guide: Wayne Millar, Watchable Wildlife Tours

Outstanding Valet: Joel Gordon, The Metterra Hotel
Outstanding Visitor Information: Raelyn Cronk, Edmonton Airports; Barbara Avent, Provincial Museum of Alberta

Total nominations (including individuals nominated multiple times) rose by 22 per cent in 2004, jumping to 1,484 nominations from 1,210 in 2003. As well, the number of individual nominees in 2004 increased to 675 from 445 in 2003, a rise of 52 per cent.

Each nominee in the 15 categories was invited for an interview in early April. Over 75 industry volunteers conducted the interviews and the results were tabulated by an independent auditor to determine the three finalists and the award recipients of each category.

The nomination deadline for this year’s awards closed Dec. 31, 2004. Nomination forms for the 6th annual awards are now available online at www.edmonton.com/yourewelcome. Edmonton Tourism, a division of EEDC, organizes this annual event with industry partner volunteers to promote and recognize the importance of exemplary customer service in Greater Edmonton.

5th Annual You’re Welcome Edmonton Awards Sponsors

Platinum: ETeam

Gold-Plus: Alberta Hotel & Lodging Association, Alberta Restaurant & Foodservices Association, Anderson Vacations, City of Edmonton, The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald, Fantasyland Hotel, Leger Marketing, Mediaco, Northlands Park, Shaw Conference Centre, The Sutton Place Hotel, Tanner Young Publishing Group, VIA Rail Canada, West Edmonton Mall, The Westin Edmonton

Gold: Simmons Canada, The Edmonton Journal, Executive Royal Inn West Edmonton