For Immediate Release: Thursday, Dec. 4, 2003

Contact: Nicole Nordbye or Lee Harstad, (605) 773-3301, nicole.nordbye@state.sd.us or lee.harstad@state.sd.us

Visitor Industry Businesses Recognized for Outstanding Customer Service

(Pierre) – The Office of Tourism has recognized more than 110 South Dakota businesses and organizations for superior customer service efforts. Each received the Great Service STAR designation which indicates a business has successfully completed the Office of Tourism’s four-step hospitality training program and is committed to outstanding service.

"Visitors see the STAR symbol and are assured that business pays special attention to top-notch customer service," said Patricia Van Gerpen, director of the Office of Tourism. "We want consumers to recognize that commitment and patronize the business because of it."

The STAR symbol is displayed with listings in the services directory of the South Dakota Vacation Guide and the visitor services directory on www.travelsd.com. Businesses that earn the designation also may use the official Great Service STAR symbol in their advertising and marketing efforts.

One of the STAR recipients will receive the prestigious George S. Mickelson Great Service Award at the annual Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Pierre Jan. 22, 2004.

These South Dakota businesses have received the Great Service Star designation for 2004.

Aberdeen

Aberdeen Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department – Wylie Park

Batesland

Wakpamni Bed and Breakfast

Brookings

Dakota Ram Inc.

Chamberlain

Akta Lakota Museum – St. Joseph’s Indian School

AmericInn and Suites

Clear Lake

Game, Fish and Parks Department – Lake Cochrane Recreation Area

Corona

Game, Fish and Parks Department – Hartford Beach State Park

Custer

Best Western Buffalo Ridge Inn

Black Hills National Forest

Custer Area Chamber of Commerce

Days Inn

Flintstones Bedrock City

Fort Welikit Family Campground

Game, Fish and Parks Department – Custer State Park

L & J Golden Circle Tours

Rock Crest Motel

Dakota Dunes

Country Inn & Suites

Deadwood

Black Hills Hideaway B&B

Cadillac Jacks and AmericInn

Comfort Inn at Gulches of Fun

Deadwood Gulch Resort

First Gold Hotel

Four Aces and Hampton Inn

Gold Dust Gaming

Holiday Inn Express

Mineral Palace Hotel

Super 8 Lodge

Hill City

Best Western Golden Spike Inn

Black Hills Central Railroad/1880 Train

Harney Peak Motel & Bungalow

Lantern Inn

Mount Rushmore KOA/Palmer Gulch Lodge

Mount Rushmore Brewing Company

Pine Rest Cabins

Robins Roost Cabins

Hot Springs

Budget Host Hills Inn

Comfort Inn

Evans Plunge

Game, Fish and Parks Department – Angostura Recreation Area

Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce

The Mammoth Site

Wind Cave National Park

Keystone

Anchorage Bed & Breakfast

Beautiful Rushmore Cave

Big Thunder Gold Mine

Keystone Chamber of Commerce

Mount Rushmore Econo-Express

Mount Rushmore President’s View Resort

Mount Rushmore White House Resort

Xanterra Parks and Resorts

Lake Andes

Game, Fish and Parks Department – North Point Recreation Area

Lake City

Game, Fish and Parks Department – Roy Lake State Park

Lead

Golden Hills Inn

Palace Express

Mitchell

Corn Palace Convention and Visitors Bureau

Days Inn

Hampton Inn

Holiday Inn and Convention Center

World’s Only Corn Palace

Murdo

Pioneer Auto Museum

Oacoma

Cedar Shore Resort Inc.

Oasis Inn

Pierre

Best Western Ramkota Inn

Game, Fish and Parks Department – Farm Island Recreation Area

Game, Fish and Parks Department – West Bend Recreation Area

Governor’s Inn

Kelly Inn

Lighthouse Pointe/Oahe Trails Golf Resort

Platte

Game, Fish and Parks Department – Buryanek Recreation Area

Game, Fish and Parks Department – Platte Creek Recreation Area

Game, Fish and Parks Department – 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

Foothills Inn

Hampton Inn

Hillside Country Cottages

Hotel Alex Johnson

Lake Park Campground

Lamplighter Inn

Quality Inn of Rapid City

Ramada Inn

Rapid City Convention and Visitors Bureau

Reptile Gardens

Rushmore Shadows Resort

Super 8

The Journey Museum

Sioux Falls

Best Western Ramkota Inn

Game, Fish and Parks Department – Outdoor Campus

Hampton Inn

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites

Kelly Inn

Sertoma Butterfly House

Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science

Wild Water West

Spearfish

Best Western Black Hills Lodge

D.C. Booth Fish Hatchery

Fairfield Inn by Marriott

Spearfish Canyon Lodge

Wall

Elkton House Restaurant

Wall-Badlands Chamber of Commerce

Wall Drug Store

Watertown

Best Western Ramkota Hotel

Country Inn & Suites

Game, Fish and Parks Department – Pelican Lake Recreation Area

Game, Fish and Parks Department – Sandy Shore Recreation Area

Redlin Art Center

Watertown Convention and Visitors Bureau

Yankton

Best Western Kelly Inn

Broadway Inn

Game, Fish and Parks Department – Lewis and Clark Recreation Area

Holiday Inn Express and Suites

Yankton Chamber of Commerce

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