Volunteers are the unsung heroes of the community, and Grand Island Tourism honored some of these essential people during an open house in celebration of National Tourism Week.
Seven volunteers and one frontline worker were recognized.
The recipients were Wayne Anson (Stuhr Museum), Jody Fegley (Crane Trust Nature and Visitor Center), Jeremy Millard and Zach Mayhew (Heartland Public Shooting Park), Ben Murphy (Fonner Park), Diane Willie Harms (Heartland Events Center/Fonner Park), and Doug Ostrander and Doug Drudik (Nebraska State Fair).
Those honored were nominated by the Crane Trust, Star Museum, Heartland Public Shooting Park and the Nebraska State Fair. Each nomination was accompanied by a statement about the impact the honoree has had on their venue or event. Many of the statements also highlighted the extraordinary contributions these volunteers and frontline workers make to the tourism industry.
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The award was presented by Brad Mellema, executive director of the Grand Island Tourism Bureau.
During the presentation, Diane Loosey, sports marketing manager for the Grand Island Convention and Visitors Bureau, read a statement from each person explaining why they were nominated, many of which included phrases like “tireless effort,” “positive attitude” and “unforgettable impression.”
“We are excited to recognize volunteers and key contributors in the tourism industry,” said Loosey. “We have talented people working at many of our facilities in Grand Island.”
Grand Island Convention and Visitors Bureau, which works with attractions and events throughout Hall County, recognizes the importance of volunteers and frontline workers. Our mission is to attract guests and drive economic impact to the county. In 2023, hotel revenue in the county increased 10.92% compared to the same period in 2022, marking the second consecutive year of double-digit growth. More hotels are currently in the planning stages to accommodate more travelers.
“They love sharing our community with visitors and thrive on interacting with people. We just don’t have enough money to pay these people,” Mellema said of the volunteers who were honored.
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