Springfield CVB is proud to announce the individuals and businesses honored at the 2022 Salute to Travel & Tourism Awards Banquet.
The Pinnacle Award is for individuals who have been active in the travel industry for many years and made substantial contributions to the betterment of the Springfield area’s travel industry. This award was presented to Gary Ellison, owner of Gary Ellison Productions, a marketing and public relations agency in Springfield.
The Diplomat Award was presented to Leslie Forrester, executive director of the Springfield Regional Arts Council (pictured above). This award is given to a government official, organization, or employee who has provided significant support to the Springfield area travel industry.
The Ambassador Award is for individuals or organizations that generated significant economic impact for the area by working to encourage tourism or secure a major convention or event in Springfield. It was given to two individuals in 2022: Fred Spaulding, a military reunion planner who has brought dozens of groups to Springfield, and Pam Prentice, who has more than 20 years of experience as a hotel general manager in Springfield.
The Spotlight Award is presented to an individual, business, or organization not usually considered part of the travel and tourism industry but made noteworthy contributions to advancing travel and tourism in the Springfield area. The Spotlight Award was presented to Trailspring for its trail development and the Singletrack Mind Festival that helped grow the local tourism economy.
The Hospitality Award was presented to BigShots Golf. This award is given to an attraction, lodging facility, or restaurant that demonstrates outstanding hospitality to the traveling public and exhibits a team spirit in promoting the growth of Springfield area travel and tourism.
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