The 31 S T Annual
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THE 31ST ANNUAL NOVEMBER 10, 2020 NOVEMBER 10, 2020 MASTER OF CEREMONIES Mary Taylor-Ash CEO Tourism Saskatchewan PRESENTER Norm Beug Chair Tourism Saskatchewan Board of Directors 2 NOVEMBER 10, 2020 SASKATCHEWAN TOURISM AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE More than 30 years ago, Saskatchewan’s tourism sector began paying special tribute to leadership and achievement in the industry – to businesses and individuals who made exceptional contributions to tourism and demonstrated that success and fulfilment come with being true to your dreams, proud of your home and eager to treat guests to remarkable Saskatchewan experiences. The Saskatchewan Tourism Awards of Excellence Gala has become a yearly showcase of achievement, bringing together representatives from every corner of the province and from a diverse range of businesses and attractions to celebrate the accomplishments of their colleagues in the industry. Originally scheduled to take place on April 2 in Regina, the 31st annual event was cancelled, along with the HOST Saskatchewan Conference, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the cancellation of both industry gatherings, the announcement of the 12 Saskatchewan Tourism Awards of Excellence recipients and three Tourism Builders was postponed. Through the use of technology and adoption of a new virtual format, members of Saskatchewan’s tourism industry are now able to gather from afar to honour those outstanding businesses and people who have gone above and beyond to deliver superior service and experiences. Join the celebration as the Saskatchewan Tourism Awards of Excellence shine a spotlight on the commitment and hard work of veteran operators, as well as the innovative spirit of young entrepreneurs, and broaden understanding of efforts that yield success and, ultimately, position Saskatchewan as a more inviting and competitive destination. 3 NOVEMBER 10, 2020 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD Presented to the Saskatchewan business, event or association that has demonstrated innovation, ingenuity, hard work and perseverance to establish a strong, viable and successful new business in the tourism sector. The recipient of this award will be an entity that was launched after June 1, 2018. Aquatic Adventures, Regina Beach In 2019, Aquatic Adventures launched Saskatchewan’s first inflatable water park at Regina Beach with phenomenal results. The floating water park, located just off the shore, creates a unique, fun and safe summer adventure for ages five and up. The attraction also hosts birthday parties and school groups. The parkour-style course is just as physically challenging as it is fun. Options for hourly, daily and season passes make the park affordable and accessible from early-June to the end of August. Social media marketing resulted in 5,000 Facebook followers and a five-star rating. In 2020, Aquatic Adventures expanded its operations to open two new water parks with different layouts at Blackstrap Provincial Park and Danielson Provincial Park. Its expansion plans also include fundraising events and community event hosting. Nutrien Wonderhub, Saskatoon The Nutrien Wonderhub children’s museum entertains families with fun exhibits and inspirational programming. The museum’s mission is to foster creativity, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning in children and their adults. Exhibits reflect the diversity of Saskatchewan communities and the unique local heritage, culture and landscape. It took five years of hard work and perseverance for volunteers, Board members, staff, design and construction teams to make the vision a reality. The completed space is now a state-of-the-art facility with 25,000 sq. ft. of galleries and 11 permanent interactive exhibits. Between June and December 2019, Nutrien Wonderhub welcomed over 104,000 guests. Its Facebook following tripled during this timeframe, from 3,000 to almost 9,000. Future growth plans include working with members to continue providing an exceptional visitor experience. Outreach exhibits will visit underserved communities throughout Saskatchewan. Odla, Saskatoon Odla – named after the Swedish word that means to grow, farm or cultivate – is a unique, farm-direct restaurant and market in Saskatoon that aims to reconnect people with the food they eat. Odla is the brainchild of husband and wife Brett and Arlie LaRoche, who also own Farm One Forty near Vanscoy. The holistically managed farm supplies the restaurant with its meat, grains, honey, fruits and vegetables. Chef and co-owner Scott Dicks creates a seasonal menu inspired by the freshest ingredients. Farmer and chef work together to create a menu that is bursting with life and flavour. Guests can even visit the farm for tours to see where the restaurant’s food is raised and grown. With Odla doing the cooking, the food is always fresh, delicious and memorable. Frequent social media posts tell stories about the growers and food ingredients to over 4,700 Instagram and 1,400 Facebook followers. 4 NOVEMBER 10, 2020 SERVICE EXCELLENCE AWARD Presented to the business, facility or attraction that has shown obvious commitment to customer service over a prolonged period and continually demonstrates high levels of customer satisfaction. Farm One Forty, Vanscoy Farm One Forty strives to be the local, sustainable, and natural choice for ethical eaters. The operation is all about connecting people with real food. Owners Arlie and Brett LaRoche previously hosted farm-to-table dinners for their customers and were encouraged to develop the tradition into a business offering. Farm tours offer a glimpse into daily life on the 140-acre operation that focuses on holistic livestock management. Guests are welcome to stroll out to the pasture, mingle with the animals and explore the gardens where most of the dinner ingredients are grown and harvested. Customer feedback inspired the latest offering of monthly farm tour lunches. In 2019, Farm One Forty constructed a cosy, inviting new event area with a gazebo, washroom facility and fire pit. To satisfy the demand for knowledge and local products, workshops and a market were also introduced. Located just 15 minutes from Saskatoon near Vanscoy, Farm One Forty connects visitors with quality, homegrown food and warm Saskatchewan hospitality. Northern Lights Vintage Spa, Maple Creek Northern Lights Vintage Spa offers holistic wellness services in an old world setting with vintage décor. The spa offers a growing selection of services that are considered the cutting-edge of wellness. Treatments are customized for the unique needs of each client. Therapeutic services include homeopathic medicine, thermography, counselling services, acupuncture, advanced foot treatments and aesthetic services. A beautiful reception area, themed treatment rooms, calming music and the scent of essential oils create the start of an immersive spa experience. Every room is welcoming and the team is dedicated to ensuring that each client leaves feeling centered, relaxed and pampered. A small boutique offers a selection of Canadian-made wellness products. The spa’s commitment to attentive and generous service resulted in the business doubling year over year, despite a number of challenges that included a devastating fire. Scott Lake Lodge, Scott Lake Scott Lake Lodge is a luxury fly-in fishing operation in northern Saskatchewan. The lodge has a longstanding commitment to offering an exceptional customer experience. Staff dedicate themselves to this vision while working to create a fishing trip experience worth repeating. A combination of customer service, steady incremental improvements, high regard for customer feedback and employee retention are evident in the lodge’s 85 per cent customer return rate. Scott Lake Lodge has sold out for the last five years and now books a year in advance. Improvement plans include major renovations of every building on the island, guided by the feedback of nearly 500 annual guests. The costly reinvestment began in 2015 and is scheduled for completion in 2021. 5 NOVEMBER 10, 2020 TOURISM EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR AWARD Presented to the frontline employee whose professionalism, dedication, attitude and quality of service best exemplify excellence in the tourism industry. Owner/operators and senior management personnel are not eligible for this award. Robert Holden, FireSong, Fowler Lake For more than a decade, Robert Holden has been a part of FireSong resort at Fowler Lake. As Security Manager, Holden goes above and beyond on a regular basis, waiting up on guests who are late or lost, venturing out in stormy weather to meet them at the main road and digging them out of the ditch if needed. Holden is passionate about showcasing the natural beauty of Saskatchewan and the hospitality of its people. His tours of FireSong Resort and his pride in the property give guests a deeper and more meaningful experience. Holden is proud to be from Saskatchewan and “bleeds green.” He has built relationships with guests, staff and local organizations to make FireSong a memorable and unique accommodation. Arnold McKenzie, Legislative Assembly Service of Saskatchewan, Regina In 2019, Arnold McKenzie celebrated his 35th year of service as an Information Officer at the Legislative Assembly Service of Saskatchewan (LAS). Over his 35 years, McKenzie dedicated himself to developing tours and programming, and providing visitors with memorable experiences. He was a fount of knowledge about the history of the Legislative Building and the province of Saskatchewan, and well known by tourists and school groups alike. His good humour and love of people saw him requested by many booking tours of the Legislative Building. In his time with the LAS, McKenzie developed an excellent rapport with the public and displayed a phenomenal ability to make people feel at ease and engaged on his tours. He trained two generations of Visitor Services staff and passed on a wealth of experience and information. McKenzie retired in mid-2019. Katie Willie, Wanuskewin, Saskatoon Since joining Wanuskewin in 2016, Katie Willie has forever changed the Visitor Services experience. Willie was tasked with delivering daily archaeological tours, as well as researching and presenting historical facts to be incorporated into the park’s permanent exhibit design.