FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                        

CONTACTS:    Nancy Hamilton, Lee Rose, Judi Durant

March 6, 2002

Lee Island Coast Visitor & Convention Bureau Welcomes Nominations for Exceptional Customer Service Awards

LEE ISLAND COAST, FL -- The Lee Island Coast Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB) in southwest Florida is seeking nominations for the second annual Elaine McLaughlin Outstanding Hospitality Service Awards, a program to recognize employees within the hospitality and allied industries who positively influence a visitor or resident’s experience on the Lee Island Coast.  Co-sponsored by The News-Press, the “E” Awards is a community collaboration to increase public awareness of, and to encourage and support, the “above and beyond” service excellence being provided by Lee Island Coast hospitality professionals.

Anyone who experiences exceptional customer service – visitor, co-worker, friend, supervisor, or customer – is encouraged to submit a nomination.  Nomination forms can be requested by calling VCB Visitor Services at (941)768-4374, online at www.LeeVCB.com, or e-mail to JDurant@leegov.com .  Nomination deadline for the 2002 Awards is April 1.  Winners will be chosen by a steering committee of industry representatives and announced in May at the annual tourism breakfast.

“Many front-line employees work hard to provide high levels of customer service for those visiting or doing business within our destination,” said D.T. Minich, C.D.M.E., VCB executive director.  “Their efforts and the personalized service they offer make the difference between visitors returning year after year, or traveling to another area, as well as how effectively residents patronize local businesses.”

The nomination categories include: Accommodations, Attractions, Restaurants, Retail, Transportation and Allied Partners.  An Honor of Distinction winner will also be chosen from the nominee list as the best overall representative of outstanding service for the year.

The “E” Awards are named after Elaine McLaughlin, the Lee Island Coast VCB’s former executive director, and exemplifies her core belief that providing outstanding customer service is one of the major cornerstones of success for all businesses. 

The “E” Awards is a project of the VCB’s Guests First customer service training program.  For more information, contact Visitor Services at (941)768-4374.