FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 23, 2005  

CONTACT: Nicole Nordbye, (605) 773-3301 or nicole.nordbye@state.sd.us 

Great Customer Service Earns Businesses a STAR

PIERRE, S.D. – The Office of Tourism has recognized more than 100 South Dakota businesses and organizations for their superior customer service efforts. Each received the Great Service STAR designation which indicates a business is committed to outstanding service and has successfully completed the Office of Tourism’s four-step hospitality training program.  

“The STAR designation recognizes businesses and organizations that make a difference by providing outstanding service and improving levels of customer satisfaction within South Dakota’s visitor industry,” said Billie Jo Waara, director of the Office of Tourism. “The STAR is an instant identifier for visitors who can be assured that businesses displaying the STAR excel in customer service.” 

The Office of Tourism awards the Great Service STAR to businesses that complete a set criterion of hospitality training which includes attending training workshops, offering vehicles for employee recognition and visitor comments, and applying for the George S. Mickelson Great Service Award. Each STAR recipient can display the official Great Service STAR symbol in its advertising and on the property. The George S. Mickeslon Great Service Award is presented annually at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism in January to the year’s top service provider.

These South Dakota businesses have received the Great Service Star designation for 2006. 

Aberdeen        

            Aberdeen Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department/Wylie Park           

            Comfort Inn      

            Foote Creek Bed and Breakfast                 

Batesland       

            Wakpamni Bed and Breakfast

Brookings       

            Staurolite Inn and Suites

Carpenter       

            Possibility Farm Bed and Breakfas

Chamberlain   

            Akta Lakota Museum   

            Cedar Shore Resort

            St. Joseph's Indian School Thrift Store

Custer 

            Black Hills National Forest

            Best Western Buffalo Ridge Inn

            Chief Motel

            Custer Area Chamber of Commerce     

            Custer State Park Resort Company

            Days Inn

            Flintstones Bedrock City

            Fort Welikit Family Campground

            Game, Fish and Park Department – Custer State Park

            L & J Golden Circle Tours

            Rock Crest Lodge and Cabins  

  Deadwood       

            Black Hills Hideaway Bed and Breakfast

            Bullock Express

            Cadillac Jacks and AmericInn   

            Comfort Inn at Gulches of Fun 

            Deadwood Gulch Resort

            First Gold Hotel and Gaming     

            Full House Inc./Gold Dust

            Historic Bullock            

            Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites

            Miss Kitty’s

            Super 8 Motel

            Wild West Casino        

Geddes           

            The Barn

Hill City          

            Black Hills Central Railroad/1880 Train

            Best Western Golden Spike Inn and Suites

            Harney Peak Motel & Bungalow

            Mount Rushmore Brewing Company

            Pine Rest Cabins

Hot Springs    

            Game, Fish and Parks Department – Angostura Recreation Area

            Best Western Sundowner Inn

            Budget Host Hills Inn

            Comfort Inn

            Evans Plunge

            The Mammoth Site

Huron  

            Dakota Inn

            Best Western of Huron

Keystone        

            Anchorage Bed and Breakfast

            Beautiful Rushmore Cave

            Big Thunder Gold Mine

            Keystone Chamber of Commerce

            Xanterra Parks & Resorts

Lake Andes    

            Game, Fish and Parks Department – North Point Recreation Area

Lake City       

            Game, Fish and Parks Department – Fort Sisseton State Historic Park

            Game, Fish and Parks Department – Roy Lake State Park

Lead    

            Game, Fish and Parks Department – Black Hills Trails Office

Madison         

            Dakota State University

Mitchell          

            Corn Palace Convention and Visitors Bureau

            Days Inn of Mitchell

            Hampton Inn

            World's Only Corn Palace/Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce

Murdo 

            Pioneer Auto Show and Antique Town

Oacoma          

            Oasis Inn

Pierre  

            Best Western Ramkota Hotel and Convention Center

            Game, Fish and Parks Department – Farm Island Recreation Area

            Game, Fish and Parks Department – West Bend Recreation Area

            Governor’s Inn

            Kelly Inn  

Platte  

            Game, Fish and Parks Department – Snake Creek Recreation Area

            Game, Fish and Parks Department – Platte Creek Recreation Area

            Game, Fish and Parks Department – Buryanek Recreation Area

Rapid City      

            Alex Johnson Hotel

            AmericInn Lodge and Suites

            Best Western Ramkota Hotel and Convention Center 

            Black Hills Caverns

            Black Hills Visitor Information Center

            Country Inn & Suites

            Comfort Inn I-90

            Foothills Inn

            Hampton Inn

            Lake Park Campground and Cottages

            Microtel Inn & Suites

            Quality Inn

            Ramada Inn

            Rapid City Convention and Visitors Bureau

            Reptile Gardens

            Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn

            Rushmore Shadows Resort

            Super 8 Motel

            The Journey Museum

Sioux Falls      

            Game, Fish and Parks – Outdoor Campus

            Hampton Inn    

            Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites

            Washington Pavilion of Arts & Science

            Wild Water West Waterpark

Spearfish        

            Best Western Black Hills Lodge

            Spearfish Canyon Lodge

Wall    

            Elkton House Restaurant           

            Wall/Badlands Area Chamber of Commerce

            Wall Drug Store/Wall Auto Livery

Watertown