Department of Tourism
For Immediate Release: Nov. 29, 2001
Contact: Rene Vallery, (605) 773-3301

AREA BUSINESSES EARN RECOGNITION FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE

More than 100 South Dakota businesses and organizations have qualified to receive the Department of Tourism’s Great Service STAR designation for 2002. The designation indicates that a business has successfully completed the department’s four-step hospitality-training process and is committed to providing outstanding customer service. (See next page for complete list.)

"The STAR symbol lets visitors know that a business pays special attention to customer service," said Patricia Van Gerpen, secretary of the South Dakota Department of Tourism.

One of the 107 qualifiers will receive the prestigious George S. Mickelson Great Service Award. It will be presented Jan. 17, 2002, at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Pierre.

Each year, the department awards the Great Service STAR to businesses that complete a set criterion of hospitality training. Those that earn the designation can use the official Great Service STAR symbol in their advertising and marketing efforts.

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The South Dakota businesses listed below have qualified to receive the Great Service Star designation for 2002.

Aberdeen
Aberdeen Parks, Recreation and Forestry Dept./Wylie Park

Belle Fourche
Family Thrift Center

Brookings
Dakota Ram Inc.
Quality Inn
Super 8 – The Rivett Group L.L.C.

Canton
GFP – Newton Hills State Park

Chamberlain
Akta Lakota Museum/St. Joseph’s Indian School
Cedar Shore Resort Inc.

Clear Lake
GFP – Lake Cochrane Recreation Area

Corona
GFP – Hartford Beach State Park

Custer
Black Hills National Forest
Custer Area Chamber of Commerce
Custer State Park
Flintstones Bedrock City
L & J Golden Circle Tours
Mountain Music Show

Dakota Dunes
Country Inn & Suites

Deadwood
Black Hills Hideaway B&B
Comfort Inn at Gulches of Fun
Deadwood Gulch Resort
First Gold Hotel
Full House Inc. (Gold Dust Gaming/Holiday Inn Express)
Mineral Palace Hotel
Super 8 Lodge
Tin Lizzie Gaming

Freeman
Freeman Super 8

Garretson
GFP – Palisades State Park

Grenville
GFP – Pickerel Lake Recreation Area

Hill City
Best Western Golden Spike Inn
Black Hills Central Railroad/1880 Train
Creekside Cottage B&B
Harney Peak Motel & Bungalow
Lantern Inn
Mt. Rushmore KOA/Palmer Gulch Lodge
Pine Rest Cabins
Robins Roost Cabins

Hot Springs
Budget Host Hills Inn
Comfort Inn
Evans Plunge
GFP – Angostura Recreation Area
Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce
Mammoth Site

Huron
Crossroads Hotel & Convention Center

Interior
Badlands Ranch and Resort

Keystone
AMFAC Parks and Resorts/Mount Rushmore
Beautiful Rushmore Cave
Big Thunder Gold Mine
Keystone Chamber of Commerce
Mount Rushmore President’s View Resort
Mount Rushmore White House Resort
Presidential Parking Inc.

Lake Andes
GFP – North Point Recreation Area

Lake City
GFP – Roy Lake State Park
GFP – Fort Sisseton State Park

Lead
Golden Hills Inn
Palace Express

Madison
GFP – Lake Herman State Park

Mission
Rosebud Sioux Tribe Tourism Department

Mitchell
Corn Palace CVB
Holiday Inn
World’s Only Corn Palace

Murdo
Pioneer Auto Museum

Oacoma
Oasis Inn

Pierre
Best Western Ramkota Inn
GFP – Farm Island & West Bend Recreation Areas
Governor’s Inn
Kelly Inn
Lighthouse Pointe/Oahe Trails Golf Resort
State Historical Society/Cultural Heritage Center

Platte
GFP – Snake Creek Recreation Area

Rapid City
AmericInn Lodge and Suites
Best Western Ramkota Hotel & Convention Center
Black Hills Caverns
Black Hills Visitor Information Center
Country Inn & Suites
Hart Ranch Camping Resort Club
Hotel Alex Johnson
Lake Park Campground
Lamplighter Inn
Quality Inn of Rapid City
Rapid City CVB
Reptile Gardens
Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn
Super 8

Sioux Falls
Best Western Ramkota Inn
GFP – Outdoor Campus
Hampton Inn
Kelly Inn
Residence Inn
Sheraton Hotel and Convention Center
Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science

Spearfish
D.C. Booth Fish Hatchery
Spearfish Canyon Resort

Wall
Ann’s Motel
Elkton House Restaurant
Jake’s
Wall-Badlands Chamber of Commerce
Wall Drug Store

Watertown
Comfort Inn
Country Inn & Suites
GFP – Pelican Lake Recreation Area
GFP – Sandy Shore Recreation Area
Watertown CVB

Yankton
Broadway Inn
Gavin’s Point Bed and Breakfast
Lewis and Clark Recreation Area
Yankton Chamber of Commerce