TCGC's Annual Rose Awards Banquet

The annual Rose Awards of the Tourism Council of Greater Cincinnati was held on April 3rd, 2008, in the Grand Ballroom of the Duke Energy Center.

The Rose Awards are awarded to those individuals in the hospitality industry who go above and beyond in cultivating a memorable experience for their customers. This year there were 51 nominees. While each of these hospitality professionals demostrate excellence in the workplace, seven rose to the top to be recognized as this year's finalists.

The following are highlights of the event.

Lindsay Fish, Chairman of the Board of TCGC

Director of Sales, La Quinta Inn Suites

David Freeman, Administrator of TCGC
President, Accent on Cincinnati

Karen Salmon, sponsor of the event
President, Transportation Connection

Sheree Paolello, evening's Emcee
Anchor, Channel 5 News

51 nominees awaiting their turn to recieve their certificate and recognition from industry peers.

Six of the seven finalists: (L to R) Darlene St. Clair, Holiday Inn Airport; Tabitha Mendoza-Christ, Cincinnati Airport Marriott; Chastity Dixon, Doubletree Guest Suites Cincinnati; David Smith, Kings Island Inn Resort and Conference Center; Ashley Fisher, Holiday Inn Eastgate; Amy LaMotta, Vernon Manor Hotel;

African-American Chamber of Commerce ChamberNet

This past Thursday, March 20, the Greater Cincinnati African-American Chamber of Commerce held a networking event at the Duke Energy Center. It was a great opportunity for folks to mingle and exchange business cards and to learn how to do busines with Duke Energy.

Sean Rugless, president of the Chamber, greets Mayor Mark Mallory and Julie Calvert of Cincinnati USA.

Mr. Rugless speaks with some business leaders.

Sean Rugless; Julie Calvert, VP of Marketing and Strategic Development, Cincinnati USA; Myron J. Rivers, Manger and Member Services, Chamber; and, Mayor Mark Mallory.

Some of the folks who came out.

Mr. Rugless addresses the gathering.

Dan Lincoln, CEO of Cincinnati USA, a sponsor of the ChamberNet event, addresses the crowd.

The Mayor having a little fun with the camera man.

The 2008 Annual Meeting of the Cincinnati USA CVB

The 2008 Annual Meeting of the Cincinnati USA CVB was held on February 26 at the Duke Energy Center in the third level Grand Ballroom.

There were over 400 in attendance.

The meeting opened with a rousing performance by the winners of the Clash of the Choirs, Team Lachey, who were so instrumental putting the spotlight on Cincinnati.

They were each presented a Spirit Award, which is awarded to those who are instrumental in bringing convention and tourists to Cincinnati.

Regina Russo of Fox 19, who introduced the choir, was clearly overtaken by their contagious energy. Ms. Russo shared the duties of emceeing the event with Dan Lincoln, President and CEO of the Cincinnati USA CVB.
Also speaking (in order of appearance) were Mayor Mark Mallory, Commissioner Todd Portune, Nick Vehr, Chairman of the Board of Cincinnati USA CVB, and Linda Antus, President of the Regional Tourism Network.


There were other Spirit Award recipients.




The Bureau had on display a new exhibit (I believe I was told it is new.)



To view all of the photos of the event, click here. You will be required to register your email address.

Cincinnati USA's September Familiarization Tour: A Black and White Experience

The bi-monthly Familiarization Tour of the Cincinnati USA CVB was exquisite.

Just when you thought the folks at Cincinnati USA and Accent on Cincinnati, the latter instrumental in planning and executing the Fam Tours, could never surpass in impact and awe-inspiring magic the previous Fam Tour, they pull something else out of the hat.

As a lover of the arts, this particular Fam Tour spoke directly to my heart.

I've entitled this A Black and White Experience. Through black and white photography, I interpret the evening, a beautiful, timeless, classy evening that each of the guests will never forget. (I bypass the earlier part of the day, which you can get a representative sample of in the previous FAMs here and here.)

(Hint: To get the full visual impact, press F11 to put your monitor in full-screen mode.)

The guests entered the lobby of Cincinnati's Music Hall, where they stopped for a moment to admire its wonderful ornate interior.



There in the lobby to welcome them was Evans Mirageas, Artistic Director of the Cincinnati Opera.

After the warm welcome, the guests were ushered into the theater.



Mr. Mirageas led the guests down the center aisle and up a set of steps to the stage, where many fine performers have captivated audiences for over 100 years.

When everyone was assembled on the stage, on cue the curtain opened and the guests beheld this:























The idea of this evening at the Music Hall was to give each of the guestsa of taste of the arts in Cincinnati.

Introducing them to Cincinnati's nationally and internationally renown ballet was Victoria Morgan.



Three dancers performed a sensuously moving routine (forgive me if the terminology is incorrect) created by Ms. Morgan.















After that performance, the guests were treated to a taste of the symphony. The world-renown Paavo Jarvi, conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, introduced the musicians.





Everyone one surprised when one of the violinists pulled out a banjo and the two classically trained musicians began to play bluegrass.



Evans Mirageas introduced the Opera.











It was a night none of the guests will ever forget.

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