Freeport,
ME – November 23, 2010 – The
Maine Innkeepers
Association (MEIA) honored industry members at the 89th
Annual
Meeting and Conference held at the Cliff House Resort & Spa in
Ogunquit on November
8, 2010. Annual hospitality awards were
presented to recognize individual industry accomplishments at the two
day
educational conference.
Photo: Cornelius
“Connie” Russell, General Manger of the Samoset Resort, accepts the
Innkeeper
of the Year award from Peter Daigle of Lafayette Hotels,
at the Maine Innkeepers
Association’s 89th Annual meeting & Conference.
“Each
award winner has greatly contributed to both
their community and their industry. The
Maine Innkeepers Association is pleased to recognize the outstanding
achievements of five members of the hospitality industry for 2010,”
stated MEIA
Executive Director Greg Dugal.
- The
Innkeeper of the Year Award,
presented to Cornelius “Connie” Russell, General Manager at the
Samoset Resort in Rockport, recognizes an active lodging operator who
has contributed significant time and effort toward the improvement of
the Association. Russell served as both MEIA board member and
President. He became General Manager of the Samoset Resort in 1999
where he has overseen several capital improvements. Russell
has served as Past President of the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of
Commerce, State Vice President of the New England Inns and Resorts
Association, Maine State Chamber of Commerce, and is a member of the
Rockland Rotary Club.
- Community
Service Award,
presented to Carla and Danny Lafayette of Lafayette Hotels in
Bangor, recognizes active lodging members who have contributed to their
community. Industry leaders, with over 27 hotels, the Lafayettes have
consistently and generously contributed to the community, recently
pledging two million dollars for the new Lafayette Family Cancer Center
in Brewer.
- The
Special Service Award,
presented to Richard Lindgren of Habitat for Humanity in
Greater Portland, recognizes contributions made to the improvement of
the lodging/hospitality/tourism industry as a whole. Lindgren was
instrumental in launching the MEIA Hospitality for Habitat program.
Prior to Habitat, Lindgren worked with Catholic
Charities, then later the Shalom House in Portland, helping to create
support systems for people with mental disabilities.
- Allied
Member of the Year Award,
presented to David Boggs, President/CEO of Acro Global, recognizes an
active allied member who has made a significant contribution on behalf
of the supplier community. Boggs has generously supported the Maine
Innkeepers with strategies and insight for the association’s web
presence.
About the Maine Innkeepers
Association
The Maine Innkeepers Association, a leading provider of tourism
information to
both Maine’s lodging industry and its visitors, represents nearly 700
B&Bs,
camps, cottages, hotels, inns, motels and resorts across Maine, and
their
suppliers. Through communication, education, promotion and government
affairs,
the Association helps its members achieve prosperity and deliver a
quality
product to the consumer. Maine Innkeepers Association is located in
Freeport,
ME and can also be found at www.maineinns.com.
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