Visit Lubbock & the Lubbock Hotel & Tourism Association Announce Tourism Industry Award Winners
In celebration of the 2024 National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW), the Lubbock Hotel & Tourism Association President Tiffany Walker and Visit Lubbock Board Chairman James Conwright honored local tourism and hospitality professionals during the annual Live Love Lubbock Luncheon on Monday, May 20 at the Cook’s Garage.
Mistie Kahl, owner of Cook’s Garage, received the Tourism Trumpeter Award for her dedication to bettering the community and encouraging tourism to the city of Lubbock.
Walker said Mistie has been a great asset for the Lubbock economy by hosting many events throughout the year that attract thousands of visitors for events such as concerts, car shows, rodeos, and guests of the Cook’s Garage restaurant. Lubbock Hotel and Tourism is honored to present Mistie with this award.
The Heart of Hospitality Award, given to an individual with five or more years of experience in the industry, was awarded to Damarick Wilson, Front Office Manager at the Home2 Suites by Hilton. In the words of his nominator, Wilson is the true face of hospitality. He is always smiling and welcoming. Wilson encompasses a genuine passion for all guests of the Home2 Suites. He leaves a lasting impression on guests, so much so that he is regularly mentioned on TripAdvisor reviews and guest surveys. Wilson is a pleasure to work with.
The Rising Star Award, given to an individual with less than five years of experience in the industry, was awarded to Peyton Minnick, Senior Conference Service Manager at the Overton Hotel & Conference Center. Minnick has worked on the events team for almost three years after beginning her role at a unique time handling events during and post-COVID. Mennick welcomes a challenge and is great at executing a game plan, which makes her successful in her event planning role. She takes the lead on all large events, with some being over 600 guests. Minnick is a native of Lubbock and a Texas Tech graduate. She enjoys working with the community and helping guests plan the perfect event.
“As we celebrate the monumental impacts of travel to the Hub City, I applaud and commend the lasting impressions today’s award winners have had on the Lubbock community throughout their careers,” said John Osborne, president and CEO of Visit Lubbock. “From Mistie’s reimagined vision of what events in Lubbock can look like, to the commitment and passion for our community exemplified by Peyton and Damarick, each individual in our local tourism industry exudes genuine West Texas hospitality that leaves a meaningful impact which continues to attract visitors to the Hub City.”
For more information about the impact of tourism, go to VisitLubbock.org For more information about the LHTA, visit lubbocktourism.com
To celebrate the tourism industry and its benefits, the U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution in 1983 to designate the first full week of May as National Travel & Tourism Week. The week is celebrated to educate local citizens about the economic benefits that travel has on local economies, while also showcasing the attractions, restaurants, and hotels in the community.
About Visit Lubbock and Lubbock Sports
Visit Lubbock is Lubbock’s official Convention & Visitors Bureau, charged with increasing the activity of leisure, sports, meeting and convention travel to Lubbock. Since 2004, Visit Lubbock and Lubbock Sports have booked more than 4,925 events or conventions, resulting in 5.91 million visitors, 1.5 million room nights and $461.4 million in direct economic impact to the Lubbock area. For more information, or to receive a free Visitor’s Guide, please call 800.692.4035 or go to VisitLubbock.org For our latest events, check out our Facebook and Instagram pages.
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