Visit Bucks County recently recognized five individuals and organizations at the National Travel & Tourism Week award celebration on Tuesday, May 3, at Crossing Vineyards and Winery. Honorees were nominated by their peers in the local hospitality industry.
Each year, the U.S. Travel Association recognizes National Travel & Tourism Week. This year’s theme is “Future of Travel.”
The 2022 Visit Bucks County Travel & Tourism Week Award honorees were:
Tourism Innovation Award: Mercer Museum & Fonthill Castle. This award honors a business/organization that implemented new and creative ways to continue to serve customers during the pandemic.
Guest Excellence Award: Kathy Cuddihy, Fox and Hound Bed & Breakfast. This award goes to a frontline staff member with a positive attitude who is willing to go the extra mile to help visitors and interact with customers on a daily basis.
Hospitality Leadership Award: Joe Ferry, Perkasie Towne Improvement Association, and Stephen Barth, Barth Consulting Group. This award honors an individual who exemplifies all the qualities of a good manager while directing and motivating his or her staff, ultimately increasing visitation to Bucks County.
Rising Star Award: Emily Seltzer, River House at Odette’s. This award is presented to a young professional aspiring to a long career in the tourism/hospitality industry.
Visit Bucks County Award: Brittany Brown, Britt Around Town. This award honors an individual who has gone above and beyond to forward the tourism and hospitality message of Visit Bucks County.
Commissioners Bob Harvie, Diane Ellis-Marseglia and Gene DiGirolamo presented the awards. “We are pleased to present Visit Bucks County with a proclamation recognizing May 1-7 as National Travel & Tourism Week throughout the County of Bucks,” said Harvie. “We thank the Visit Bucks County staff and board of directors for the hard work they do to market and support the industry.”
Before announcing the 2022 awards, the commissioners also recognized the 2021 Tourism Week Award winners in-person as last year’s event was virtual. These honorees were:
– Innovative Business Award: Moss Mill Brewing Company
– Guest Excellence Award: MaryLou Henderson, Continental Tavern
– Hospitality Leadership Award: Sherry Jackson, Candlewood Suites Bensalem-Philadelphia
– Rising Star Award: Kelly Doody, Holiday Inn Express Philadelphia NE-Bensalem
– Dedicated Partner Award: Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association
Visit Bucks County board chair Sharon Rossi shared key tourism statistics. She said, “In 2020, visitor spending in Bucks County generated $787 million dollars in economic impact and supported 22,000 jobs in the leisure and hospitality industry.”
President/COO of Visit Bucks County, Paul Bencivengo, shared that January to March 2022 hotel occupancy is up 10 percent from 2021 with average daily rate up 23 percent. The tourism office is still awaiting final April key hotel numbers, but all indicators show positive growth for the month.
“Right now, our marketing campaigns are in full force with two new commercials airing this spring and summer in New York and Philadelphia,” said Bencivengo. “Our outdoor campaign continues with billboards throughout northern New Jersey and a strong digital campaign also in place in New York, Philadelphia and Washington, DC.”
