FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Lee Chambers, Marketing/Public Relations Manager Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau

Tel: (413) 755-1345/E-mail: lee@valleyvisitor.com GSCVB ANNOUNCES 17TH ANNUAL HOWDY AWARDS FINALISTS Springfield, MA-- (4/13/12)The Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau (GSCVB) named forty-five individuals from throughout the Pioneer Valley as finalists for the 2012 Howdy Awards for Hospitality Excellence. The finalists were honored at a reception last night at The Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke, MA. The awards program, now in its 17th year, was created by the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau (GSCVB) to recognize front-line employees in the hospitality industry for providing outstanding service to their guests and customers. (See the attached list for all finalists.) The finalists, who represent a variety of businesses, organizations and activities from throughout Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties, now move up to the next level of competition -- judging by a group of recognized industry professionals from outside the region. The winners will then be announced and honored at a gala dinner and awards presentation on Tuesday, May 15, also at the Log Cabin. On that night, a winner will be named in each of seven categories -- Accommodations, Attractions, Beverage, Food, Public Service, Retail/Business and Transportation. A Spotlight Award, which recognizes individuals or organizations that have made a significant contribution to the tourism industry in the Pioneer Valley, will also be presented that evening. The Howdy Awards program not only recognizes accomplishments, professionalism and service in the local hospitality industry; it also provides career-enhancing credentials for winning recipients and additional marketing exposure for the businesses and services whose employees excel. Sponsors for the 2012 Howdy Awards for Hospitality Excellence include Aladco Linen Co., Baystate Health, CBS-3 Springfield, Eastern States Exposition, Freedom Credit Union, Global Spectrum, The Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House/The Delaney House, MassLive.com, Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, Performance Foodservice, The Republican, WRNX-FM and Yankee Candle Company. Each winner will receive an engraved Howdy Award for Hospitality Excellence, a lapel pin and a gift bag as well as a framed certificate recognizing their accomplishment. Tickets to the Gala Dinner in May are $65.00 per person, and $625 for a table of ten. For ticket information or more information regarding the Howdy Awards for Hospitality Excellence, call Lee Chambers at the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau at (413) 755-1345. The GSCVB, an affiliate of the Economic Development Council of Western MA, is a private non-profit destination marketing organization dedicated to promoting Massachusetts Pioneer Valley for meetings and conventions, group tours and leisure travel. For more information, visit www.valleyvisitor.com.

2012 Howdy Awards Finalists

First Name Julie Last Name Adams Their Job Supervisor Company Name Homewood Suite City/ Town Holyoke Howdy Category Accommodatio ns

Jason Doug Melissa Rachel Stephe n Kristin Gene Sue Sybil Tony Henry Andrew Michael Connie Rachel Deb Emma Eliza Mary

Gold King Labont e Osborn

Front Desk Agent Supervisor of Accommodations General Manager Assistant Director Director of Business Travel Sales Manager of Operations Museum Staff Person Customer Service Representative Sales Person Visitor Services Volunteer Museum Store Clerk Games Lead Steward Front Gate Manager Bartender Bartender Bartender Bartender Bartender

Comfort Inn & Suites Campus Center Hotel at UMass Amherst Comfort Inn & Suites Mount Holyoke College Willits Hallowell Center

Ludlow Amherst Ludlow South Hadley Springfiel d Northamp ton Springfiel d Bernardst on Bernardst on Springfiel d Springfiel d Agawam Springfiel d Springfiel d Holyoke Chicopee Northamp ton Bernardst on South Hadley

Accommodatio ns Accommodatio ns Accommodatio ns Accommodatio ns Accommodatio ns Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Beverage Beverage Beverage Beverage Beverage

Vinelli Cole Eggele ston Herzig Latham Lewtas Lockett Magistr i Morris O'Brien Beaulie u Fortin Gilbert Greens mith Mercier

Sheraton Chamber of Commerce Basketball Hall of Fame Kringle Candle Kringle Candle Springfield Armory National Historic Site Springfield Museums Six Flags New England Centerplate at MassMutual Center Bright Nights Uno's - Holyoke Mall 99 Restaurant Wiggins Tavern Farm Table Restaurant Yarde House

Nate Samant ha Kyle Char Laurie Robert a

Okai Osows ki Wojtow icz Bartlett Carr Ekmali an

Bartender Manager Bartender Greeter Server

Typical Sicilian Restaurant Whip City Brew Chandler's Restaurant The Delaney House Red Robin

Springfiel d Westfield South Deerfield Holyoke Enfield West Springfiel d West Springfiel d Wilbraha m Northamp ton Bernardst on South Deerfield Ludlow Springfiel d Holyoke Enfield Agawam Springfiel d Ludlow Sunderlan d

Beverage Beverage Beverage Food Food

Waitress

White Hut

Food

Danny Amy Michael Joey Rose Linda Mary Lou Blanca Andrea Bill Young Terry Khia

Elias Frazier Mason Mella Pielock Savoia Kittrell Ortiz Skidgel Beaudr y Choi Coddin g Eagan

Waiter Manager Server Server Dining Room Supervisor Server Concierge Group Leader Office Assistant Store Clerk Store Owner Customer Service Representative Assistant Manager

Bertucci's Village Store & Caf Wiggins Tavern Farm Table Restaurant Chandler's Restaurant Friendly's Restaurant Baystate Medical Center City of Holyoke Council on Aging Asnuntuck Community College Azon Liquors Neighborhood Foods Tower Square Randall's Farm 7-Eleven

Food Food Food Food Food Food Public Service Public Service Public Service Retail/ Business Retail/ Business Retail/ Business Retail/ Business

Barbar a Tristan Moises Mike Karolin e Erin

Hertz Murkett e Arroyo Arsena ult Birdsall Summ erlin

Retail Clerk Manager Motorcoach Operator Valet Manager Motorcoach Operator Group Tour Specialist

CVS Soccer City Peter Pan Bus Lines Valet Park of America Peter Pan Bus Lines First Choice Tours

Longmea dow Wilbraha m Springfiel d Springfiel d Springfiel d South Deerfield

Retail/ Business Retail/ Business Transportation Transportation Transportation Transportation