Department of Tourism
For Immediate Release:  December 5, 2002
Contact:  René Vallery (605) 773-3301 rene.vallery@state.sd.us

AREA BUSINESSES AWARDED "STAR" FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE
*See below for complete list

More than 100 businesses and organizations in South Dakota have been recognized with a Department of Tourism Great Service STAR for their customer service efforts.  The designation indicates a business has successfully completed the department's four-step hospitality-training process and is committed to providing outstanding customer service. 

“Visitors will see the STAR symbol and can be assured that the business pays special attention to customer service,” said Patricia Van Gerpen, South Dakota Department of Tourism secretary. 

One of the STAR recipients will receive the prestigious George S. Mickelson Great Service Award.  It will be presented Jan. 23, 2003 at the annual Governor's Conference on Tourism in Pierre. 

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

Go to www.sdvisit.com and click on “programs” to learn more about the Great Service Program. 

The South Dakota businesses listed below have qualified to receive the Great Service Star designation for 2003. 

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

Batesland
Wakpamni Bed and Breakfast

Brookings
Dakota Ram Inc.                             

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
Best Western Buffalo Ridge Inn
Custer Area Chamber of Commerce 
CSP - Custer State Park 
Flintstones Bedrock City      
L & J Golden Circle Tours               

Dakota Dunes
Country Inn & Suites                                   

Deadwood
Black Hills Hideaway B&B 
Cadillac Jacks and AmericInn          
Deadwood Gulch Resort                  
First Gold Hotel                               
Full House Inc. (Gold Dust Gaming/Holiday Inn Express)      
Mineral Palace Hotel                                   
Super 8 Lodge                                             

Freeman
Freeman Super 8

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 
The Mammoth Site                                      

Interior
Badlands Ranch and Resort             

Keystone  
Anchorage Bed and Breakfast
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.      
Xanterra Park and Resorts               

Lake Andes
GFP – North Point Recreation Area 

Lead
Golden Hills Inn                               
Palace Express                               

Madison
GFP – Lake Herman State Park       

Mission
Rosebud Sioux Tribe Tourism Department    

Mitchell
Corn Palace Convention and Visitors Bureau 
Hampton Inn                                               
World’s Only Corn Palace               

Murdo
Pioneer Auto Museum                                 

Oacoma
Oasis Inn/Kelly Inn                                               

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

Platte
GFP - Buryanek Recreation Area
GFP - Platte Creek Recreation Area
GFP - Snake Creek Recreation Area            

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

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

Spearfish
D.C. Booth Fish Hatchery               

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

Watertown
Best Western Ramkota Hotel
Comfort Inn                                                
Country Inn & Suites                                   
GFP - Pelican Lake Recreation Area           
GFP - Sandy Shore Recreation Area            
Watertown Convention and Visitors Bureau                          

Yankton
Broadway Inn                                             
GFP - Lewis and Clark Recreation Area      
Yankton Chamber of Commerce      

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