PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Dennis Daugaard and the South Dakota Department of Tourism presented five awards, including a new award, to top visitor industry leaders and organizations during the Thursday evening banquet at the 2013 Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Pierre.

The Ben Black Elk Award recognizes individuals or entities that have made outstanding contributions to South Dakota’s Visitor Industry.

This year, the award was presented to Michelle Lintz, Executive Director of the Rapid City Convention and Visitors Bureau. She has served in the tourism industry for 26 years and has proven to be a leader and innovator for Rapid City and South Dakota’s visitor industry. 

“Michelle is committed to leading the industry and is always embracing new ideas to promote her city to visitors,” said Gov. Daugaard. “She has continuously promoted Rapid City, the Black Hills and South Dakota as a travel destination and is a strong and well-respected leader in her community and across the state.”

The A. H. Pankow Award, which honors a media outlet or individual member of the media for unparalleled coverage and promotion of the state’s visitor industry, was awarded to Chad Coppess*, who is the senior photographer for the Department of Tourism.

Governor Daugaard noted, “Chad has traveled the entire state looking for new and interesting ways to show off some of our state’s most recognized attractions. His photos are featured around the globe in tour catalogs and magazine articles. Nearly every industry partner, state entity, and South Dakota attraction has used his images and photographs in one way or another. We are privileged to have Chad serving South Dakota.”

The George S. Mickelson Great Service Awards were awarded to South Dakota State Parks and the Holiday Inn City Centre in Sioux Falls.

“We thank these leaders for their commitment to excellent customer service," the Governor said. “This dedication to hospitality and customer satisfaction makes South Dakota a place worth remembering.”

2012 marked the fourth successful year of the Rooster Rush fall hunting promotion. This year, the Rooster Rush Cacklin’ Community Award was presented to the communities of Pierre and Fort Pierre.  Businesses hosted welcome hunter receptions, more than 40 businesses decorated their storefronts, front-line employees dressed in orange, and a car dealership sponsored a Best Pheasant Recipe cook-off.

A new award at the 2013 conference, one of which the Department of Tourism will nominate, is the Excellence in Tourism Innovation Award. The award honors an industry member for thinking “outside the box” when it comes to promoting their business, organization, or destination. The 2013 award was given to the Rapid City Convention and Visitor Bureau for the Rushmore Mascots marketing efforts.

“Thanks to the CVB’s creative thinking, they were able to bring South Dakota to the visitor, promoting travel to South Dakota across the United States,” the Governor said.

The South Dakota Department of Tourism is comprised of Tourism, the South Dakota Arts Council, and the South Dakota State Historical Society. The Department is led by Secretary James D. Hagen.

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MEDIA NOTES:

• High-resolution photos of all of the award winners can be accessed via this DropBox link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ssuwysuruf4hlt1/igRFbUdN0U

• Cacklin’ Community finalists:

• Aberdeen
• Huron
• Mitchell
• Pierre/Ft. Pierre – 2013 Winner
• Watertown

• George S. Mickelson Award finalists:
• • Non-corporate (do not have access to a corporate training program):
  • • Black Hills Central Reservations – Deadwood
    • Pioneer Auto Show & Prairie Town – Murdo
    • Prairie Berry Winery – Hill City
    • Redlin Art Center – Watertown
    • Reptile Gardens – Rapid City
    • South Dakota State Parks – Pierre – 2013 Winner
    • Rapid City Convention and Visitors Bureau – Rapid City
    • Wylie Park – Aberdeen
  • Corporate:
  • • Country Inn & Suites – Watertown
    • Holiday Inn City Centre – Sioux Falls – 2013 Winner
    • Xanterra Parks & Resorts – Keystone
    • Best Western AND Ramkota Hotel & Conference Center – Sioux Falls
    • Club House Hotel & Suites – Sioux Falls
    • Comfort Suites Hotel & Conference Center – Rapid City

*Coppess (CAH’-pus)