Discover Northwest Nebraska is excited to announce the nominees for its first-ever Northwest Nebraska Tourism Industry Awards.
“We are happy to announce 12 nominees across three award categories in our inaugural year,” said Discover Northwest Nebraska Director Kerri Rempp. “We implemented the awards to showcase the people and places who are going above and beyond to make visitors feel welcome and inspire them to return.”
The nominees for Business/Attraction of the Year include the Bean Broker Coffee House and Pub in Chadron and the Prairie Agate Rock Shop in Crawford. The Bean Broker was nominated for its willingness to host events, provide a friendly atmosphere for business and leisure visitors and the readily-available tourism information on the region. Prairie Agate Rock Shop was nominated for its uniqueness as a business that capitalizes on the region’s assets and the friendly, helpful nature of its ownership.
Two groups of volunteers and a single individual were nominated for Tourism Volunteer of the Year. The board of directors and a group of 40 volunteers who keep the Dawes County Historical Museum operating were nominated for their shared vision to chronicle the region’s history, while the Sioux County Fair and Rodeo Board was nominated for pulling off a successful event without many resources since 1896. Dave Hockenbary was nominated for his work with the Fur Trade Days board, having served two years as its president and as a still-willing committee member and volunteer.
Five nominees will vie for Frontline Employee of the Year. Laure Sinn and Courtney Kouba of the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center each earned a nod; Sinn for her warmth and knowledge of the area and Kouba for the exhibits she creates and atmosphere she helps provide. Kennady Stack of the Bean Broker, Pam Wing of Country Kitchen and Brooklyn Anderson of Just Love Coffee each earned nominations for the friendly, helpful service they provide at their respective establishments.
The awards will be presented April 20 at Discover Northwest Nebraska’s Treasure Chest of the Northwest industry workshop, co-hosted by Chadrad Communications and the Heartland Center’s committee for Rural Prosperity in Northwest Nebraska. The event will kick off at 5:30 p.m. at the Dawes County Fairgrounds Events Center.
Northwest Nebraska tourism industry professionals will have a chance to network with each other during the third annual Treasure Chest of the Northwest April 20, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. at the Dawes County Fairgrounds Event Center.
In addition to the awards, attendees will have the opportunity to network and exchange ideas and information with each other and hear from several speakers during the workshop. Topics to be addressed include: “Hospitality: What Is It and Why Is It Important?,” “Mutual Promotion & Collaboration,” and “Diversified Marketing Strategies.” There will also be a recap of the 2022 tourism season and information about the Discover Northwest Nebraska tourism office presented.
A brochure exchange will be offered, and attendees can play Brochure Bingo for a chance to win prizes, and there will be other opportunities to win prizes that evening as well.
Event coordinators, business/attraction managers, owners and employees are invited to enjoy heavy appetizers provided by B&B Catering, networking and informational sessions. Anyone who works in the Dawes & Sioux County tourism industry is invited to attend. RSVPs are required, however, so interested individuals are asked to contact Discover Northwest Nebraska Director Kerri Rempp by April 6 at director@discovernwnebraska.com, or by calling 308-432-3006.
Tickets are $5 per person, payable at the door to B&B Catering.