Hospitality industry awards honor outstanding customer ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sept. 1, 2016 Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau CONTACTS: Judi Durant, Francesca Donlan, Lee Rose

239-338-3500

Hospitality industry awards honor outstanding customer service in Lee County

LEE COUNTY, FL ? To increase public awareness of extraordinary customer service provided by hospitality employees throughout Lee County, workers were recognized by receiving the Elaine McLaughlin Outstanding Hospitality Service Awards at the 16th annual ceremony at Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa in Fort Myers today.

Visitors from around the world submitted a record breaking 943 nominations, giving high praise to 494 local employees who provided outstanding customer service. Produced by the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB) and The News-Press Media Group, the "E Awards" is a collaboration with various local businesses to encourage and award service excellence.

Nomination criteria included service satisfaction, leadership, work ethic, job knowledge and performance skills, familiarity with the destination and assistance during an emergency.

Selected for their distinctive service and dedication:

Honor of Distinction Winner: Anna Marie Meszaros, Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village

Accommodations Diana Duhaney, Inns of Sanibel

Attractions: Ginny & Ken Kopperl, J.N. "Ding" Darling Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel Island

Restaurants: Patty Segura, East End Deli, Sanibel Island

Transportation: Lazaro Gonzalez, Lee County Port Authority Police

Other Services/Businesses: Melody Warrick-Marsh, Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa, Bonita Springs

Good Samaritan: Darwin Adames, Terry Brunson, Billy Galewski, Oscar Gonzalez, Tom Grow, Andres Vila, Fort Myers Beach Fire Department

Best Tourism Boss: Tim & Jeff Malbon, Best Western Plus Beach Resort, Fort Myers Beach

The Honor of Distinction award, given to Anna Marie Meszaros, Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village, was sponsored by Geraci Travel for best overall representative of outstanding service for the year.

Although there are many nominees who exemplify the best in customer service and let their love of the job and destination show in their work, the Honor of Distinction winners rise to a higher level.

A nominator describes Anna Marie Meszaros as "the epitome of hospitality service."

As a guest service agent and supervisor with the resort for several years, the nominator states that the resort regularly receives comment cards, TripAdvisor comments and guest experience reviews recognizing Anna Marie by name for her incredible service.

"Anna Marie takes it upon herself to pick up dog treats for the resort's many four-legged friends, charms for dog collars when they are celebrating birthdays and even special gifts for regular guests who are spending their special day at the resort," the nominator stated.

Recently, one of the resort's regular guests shared a story about their 92-year-old mother who was in a local hospice. When the guests had to go out of town, Anna Marie visited their mother when she was not working. During these visits, Anna Marie maintained a journal of the conversations that took place between them. Shortly after the mother passed away, Anna Marie surprised the guests with the journal as a gift.

They were touched by the kindness bestowed upon their mother at a time when they could not be with her. While this may seem like a rare or unusual story, this is how Anna Marie lives her life, says the nominator who explained that they had only just heard about it directly from the guest many months later, as Anna Marie would not be one to share this on her own.

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Editor's note: Images of all winners available upon request.

E Award Sponsors: The News-Press Media Group Geraci Travel

Adventures in Paradise Alico Family Golf Billy's Rentals DiamondHead Beach Resort & Spa Edison & Ford Winter Estates GullWing Beach Resort Key West Express Miracle Baseball Club Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina Pointe Estero Beach Resort Pure Florida Fort Myers South Seas Island Resort Sun Harvest Citrus Sun Splash Family Waterpark Tarpon Bay Explorers `Tween Waters Inn Island Resort Veranda & Rib City Restaurants Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village

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