Visit Chicago Southland held its annual meeting and awards luncheon recently with a packed crowd of business and legislative leaders at Georgios Banquets Quality Inn and Suites Conference Centre.
The annual meeting, entitled “Changing the Odds: Playing a New Hand,” addressed the 2024 fiscal year’s news, achievements, and initiatives, including the presidential transition from retired Jim Garrett to Mary Patchin, a new official name and logo of Visit Chicago Southland, the earning of the industry’s top designation of Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) with distinction, a new Visitor Information Center, its award-winning website, myriads of sales and marketing benchmarks, and the reporting of record high media metrics.
Garrett, Visit Chicago Southland President and CEO from 1996 to 2024, recorded a video message thanking legislators, business partners, and colleagues. Patchin, who effectively succeeded Garrett on July 1, helmed the program, including presenting its 11 industry awards.
Keynote speaker, Bill Geist of DMOproz, spoke on the role destination marketing organizations (DMOs) play in growing the economies of communities served and noted: “Inspiring visitation to a community sets off a chain reaction that enhances economic development. Indeed, a visit is the first date for community development.”
Other initiatives include a signage program, the National Tourism Day Celebration and Hospitality Showcase on May 23, Passports to the Southland rewards program, and a new leisure campaign titled “Where Boring Doesn’t Exist.”
For more details on media metrics, economic impact, VisitChicagoSouthland.com, hotel occupancy, trade shows, Passports to the Southland, and DMAP accreditation, read the 2024 Annual Report.
Visit Chicago Southland Board Chairman, Richard Brink, was presented the Sen. Aldo DeAngelis Leadership Award for both his chairmanship contributions and work as general manager of DoubleTree by Hilton Chicago-Alsip. Award winners came from Alsip, Bedford Park, Bridgeview, Flossmoor, Lansing, Lynwood, Oak Forest, Orland Hills, and Orland Park.
Chicago Southland Stars of the Industry Award Winners include: Administrative Employee of the Year – Janete Lopez, Sales Manager, Hampton Inn and Suites Bridgeview; Food and Beverage Employee of the Year – Saul Villa, Banquet Server, DoubleTree by Hilton Chicago-Alsip; Guest Services Employee of the Year – Colleen Flaherty, Front Desk Agent, Quality Inn and Suites-Orland Hills; Housekeeping Employee of the Year – Leticia Banuelos, Housekeeping Supervisor, Homewood Suites by Hilton Orland Park; Maintenance Employee of the Year – Gerardo Temores, Comfort Suites and Sleep Inn in Lansing; and Manager of the Year – Caitlyn Maxwell, Area Director of Catering, Marriott Chicago Midway Airport in Bedford Park
Visit Chicago Southland Annual Tourism Award Winners include: Award of Merit: Village of Flossmoor, with Mayor Michelle Nelson accepting; Spirit of Hospitality Award – Annie Byrne, General Manager, Southland Center in Lynwood; Municipal Leader of the Year – Village of Orland Park, Mayor Keith Pekau accepting; Sen. Aldo DeAngelis Leadership Award – Richard Brink, General Manager of DoubleTree by Hilton Chicago-Alsip and Visit Chicago Southland Board Chairman; and Member of the Year – Chicago Gaelic Park in Oak Forest, General Manager Michael Bennett accepting.