Chrysalis Awards honor eight local individuals/businesses for community contributions?
The Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau and the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce Inc. honored eight local individuals and businesses at the second annual Celebration of Business & Tourism Awards Luncheon and Trade Show at Harborside Event Center in downtown Fort Myers last Friday.
The 2011 honorees were celebrated for their positive impact on the local community:?
1. ?Chrysalis Awards:
• Business Development: Miromar Outlets
• Eco-Innovation: Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa?
• Cultural Achievement: BIG Arts
• Education: HSA Engineers & Scientists?
• Sports MVP: Ron Riley, Caloosa Catch and Release, Inc.?
• Sales & Marketing: Kathleen Hoover, Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum??
2. Junonia Awards:
?• Dan Baggot — Southwest Florida Distributing, Publishing & Mailing
• Colleen DePasquale — Courtyard by Marriott @ I-75 and Gulf Coast Town Center.
?The 64 business and individual Chrysalis Award candidates were nominated by their organizations or peers and included area attractions, retailers, restaurants, engineering firms, and other local businesses in six categories. Nominees were judged on innovation in their respective category, how they have distinguished themselves in the community, the results of their efforts to promote the destination, their contributions to business and tourism partnerships for the overall benefit of the county, and their work to foster growth and sustainability. Honorees were recognized for their commitment to excellence in improving community growth, creating job opportunities for Lee County citizens, and encouraging more vacationers to the destination.
The VCB Junonia Award, awarded solely at the discretion of the VCB, was created in 2006 to recognize individuals in tourism who have demonstrated unique capabilities, leadership, commitment, and dedication throughout the local tourism community. “Dan Baggot has been involved with this tourism community for over a quarter of a century and his tireless advocacy in support of tourism growth is infamous,” stated VCB Executive Director Tamara Pigott. Regarding Colleen DePasquale, this year’s other Junonia Award recipient, Pigott commented:?”Colleen is a true tourism advocate, providing leadership, community involvement, and an engaging, infectious drive to all she does in support of tourism.”??The trade show and luncheon celebrated the value of tourism and the community teamwork involved in maintaining and enhancing tourism as a major economic engine for the county, as that industry contributes $2.5 billion to the local economy and employs nearly one in five Lee County residents. It was held to commemorate National Travel and Tourism Week as part of the VCB’s year-round Team Tourism informational program to strengthen destination teamwork.