The Center for Sustainable Tourism at the University of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ at Boulder honored state tourism professionals and projects at a ceremony Thursday night, Oct. 29, recognizing innovation and dedication to ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥'s tourism industry.
The awards program – which kicks off the 1998 ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Travel and Tourism Conference – was at the University Club, 972 Broadway in Boulder.
The Chancellor's Tourism Awards in Leadership and Service were given to five individuals who have "sustained their respective contributions during both prosperous and challenging times. The recipients are Ilene Kamsler, ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Hotel & Lodging Association; Rich Meredith, ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥'s Tourism Industry; The Hon. Tilman Bishop, state senator; Rod Barker, ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Tourism Board; and Jim Bain, ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Travel and Tourism Authority.
The Chancellor's Tourism Award for Outstanding Individual Contribution was awarded to Darlene Scott of Burlington Old Town. The Old Town project is a 6.5-acre complex that recreates the turn-of-the-century plains lifestyle.
The Chancellor's Tourism Award for Outstanding Community Initiative was accepted by Pat Kelly on behalf of the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk Project.
The Chancellor's Tourism Award for Outstanding Regional Initiative went to Dinosaur Diamond Partnership, a cooperative effort among 12 rural communities, six counties and state and federal agencies in ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ and Utah.
Chancellor's Tourism Awards for Outstanding Industry Advisory Council Members will go to Tom Allee, Frontier Airlines; Chris Adams, VR-1; and Greg Hartman, Hospitality Valuation Services. The ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Tourism Industry Advisory Council began nearly two years ago to facilitate a linkage between the academic efforts of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ and the various sectors of the tourism industry.