TRAVERSE CITY — Top performing professionals in the region’s hospitality sector were recognized with “High Five Hospitality Awards” presented by Traverse City Tourism.
The organization presented the honors to 11 area hospitality industry staff members and business owners at its annual meeting held Thursday afternoon, which drew almost 300 attendees at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. TC Tourism launched the awards program last year, presented in various categories to recognize the people who work in lodging, attractions, restaurants, beverage services, and local festivals.
“This is our way to recognize people who bend over backward every day to make people’s days a little brighter, and their memories a lot richer when they come to visit,” Traverse City Tourism President and CEO Trevor Tkach said in a media release.
This year’s recipients include:
— Stephen Brotschul of River Club and Glen Arbor/Broomstack Kitchen & Taphouse – Front of House: All Venues
— A.J. Anderson of the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa – Front of House: Lodging
— Matthew Byers of Great Wolf Lodge – Back of House: Lodging
— Katie Leonard of Grand Traverse Resort and Spa – Group Sales & Meeting Services
— Brittany Roberts of Crystal Mountain Resort – Marketing, Finance & Operations
— Alaina Hogerheide of Cultured Kombucha Company – Tastemaker
— Mike and Gina Sheldon, owners of River Club in Glen Arbor – Cheer-Leadership
— Alexis Bremer of The Festival Foundation – Festivals, Events, & Attractions
William “Bill” Autenreith of Chateau Chantal — Hospitality All-Star
— Joe Short of Short’s Brewing – Community Impact
The Community Impact award is a new award nominated and selected by the Traverse City Tourism Board of Directors to recognize significant contributions to the hospitality community. The Cheer-Leadership and Tastemaker awards are also two new categories added this year.
Award recipients received a certificate of recognition from the state and a specialized gift packages to explore and enjoy experiences of the region. The Community Impact recipient also received a $500 gift for the non-profit organization of his choice.
TC Tourism officials said that some 12,500 people are involved in the leisure and hospitality sector in the Grand Traverse region, an industry that generates a $1.4 billion annual impact in the local economy. The area has received extensive national recognition over the past year, including being named as one of the “10 Best Places To Go In 2025” in the world by the Wall Street Journal, and a “10 Best Wine Region” by USA Today readers.
“This is a premier travel destination, not only in the Midwest, but around the country,” Tkach said. “We have a responsibility to keep this place magnificent. It’s people like our award winners who take that responsibility seriously.”
Tkach also announced at the annual meeting that the 2016 Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism will return to the area next spring, set for April 7-9 at the Grand Traverse Resort.