Submitted by Experience Olympia & Beyond
Experience Olympia & Beyond, the region’s destination marketing and management organization, announced the winners of the 2024 Thurston County Tourism Awards at the Field of Dreams Annual Meeting on Thursday, September 19 at The Kodiak Room. The awards ceremony celebrated community leaders in hospitality and destination development.
“I am incredibly honored to recognize the exceptional work of these individuals and businesses, many who work behind the scenes to make our area incredible,” said Annette Pitts, CEO of Experience Olympia & Beyond. “Their dedication to our region’s tourism industry has had a profound impact on our community.”
The nominees and winners for the 2024 Thurston County Tourism Awards are:
Boldness in Tourism Award
This individual brought new ideas and innovative ways of attracting visitors to Thurston County in the past 12 months. They took risks and thought “out of the box” and the result is growing enthusiasm about visiting iconic destinations in Thurston County.
WINNER: Patrick and Christina Costelo, Legends Arcade
Britt Bowman, City of Tumwater
Desiree Freeland, Olympia Downtown Alliance
Christen Green, Team Tomorrow
Taber Lee, Port of Olympia
Monique Ossa, Ossa Skinworks
Line Roy, City of Yelm
George Sharp, Thurston EDC
Excellence in Hospitality Award
This individual is a frontline worker who put in the hours during the past 12 months, made all guests feel welcome and typified the attributes of a gracious and knowledgeable host. The result of their efforts creates a visitor who is eager to return and visit Thurston County again due to their exceptional customer service.
WINNER: Elise Landry, Chicory
Amilia Forsberg, Chelsea Farms Oyster Bar
Jose Guzman, Olympia Tumwater Foundation
Christen Green, Team Tomorrow
Janine Phillips, Hampton Inn and Suites, Lacey
Christian Skillings, Iron Rabbit and Cynara
Patrick Knutson Tourism Legend Award
This award honors an individual who has served in the hospitality industry for ten or more years and either currently resides in or has roots in Thurston County. The award winner exemplified the characteristics of leadership, innovation and stewardship in hospitality over the person’s lifetime.
WINNER: George Sharp, Thurston EDC
Patty Belmonte, Hands on Children’s Museum
John Freedman, Olympia Tumwater Foundation
Christen Green, Team Tomorrow
Sophie Landis, Sofie’s Scoops
Eli Sterling, Earthbound Productions
Experience Olympia & Beyond would like to recognize sponsors of the Field of Dreams Annual Meeting: Port of Olympia, The Kodiak Room, Marv’s Marvlus BBQ, Chelsea Farms Oyster Bar, Great Wolf Lodge, Intercity Transit, TwinStar Credit Union, Puget Sound Energy, Budd Bay Café, Indian Summer Golf & County Club, Jordan Doughty, Line Roy, Olympia Oyster House, and River’s Edge.
For more information on the 2024 Tourism Awards, please visit the Experience Olympia & Beyond website.
