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Somerset County Tourism Announces Winners of 5th Annual Salute to Tourism Awards

Somerset County Tourism Announces Winners of 5th Annual Salute to Tourism Awards

January 19, 2018

 

Winners of the Economic Champion, Tourism Champion and Service Excellence awards were honored at Somerset Tourism’s 5th annual Salute to Tourism awards event on Friday, January 19, 2018 at the Bernard’s Inn in Bernardsville, N.J. The event recognizes individuals, organizations and venues that have made a positive economic impact through tourism activities in Somerset County in central New Jersey. The event was attended by approximately 100 leaders in tourism and business from throughout Somerset County and surrounding areas. The keynote speech was delivered by hospitality expert, Glenn Haussman.

 

Somerset County’s Salute to Tourism program pays tribute to front line tourism staff and organizations that set the bar for the Somerset County Tourism industry. The nominations were judged by representatives from fellow New Jersey Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs), who selected the following 2018 Somerset County awards winners:

 

  • Economic Champion – Natirar Resort Development

The company, based in Peapack-Gladstone, has created a destination adjacent to Natirar Park that includes an award-winning restaurant, Ninety Acres plus a farm, cooking school, private club, and a restored historic mansion which is used as a venue space. On an annualized basis, Natirar attracts approximately 86,000 visitors for both public and private events at Ninety Acres, the cooking school and the mansion, as well as for public dining. In addition, Natirar draws a high number of guests from outside Somerset County who attend private events at the Mansion (85 percent), and public dining and private events at Ninety Acres (55 to 70 percent). The venue employs 115 people on site, exclusive of the tradespeople associated with the Mansion renovation that took place in 2017. Future projects on the property include residences, hotel rooms, a challenge course and a spa. Natirar projects it will add another 125 direct jobs when the hotel opens, plus the related construction jobs.

 

  • Tourism Champion – Jenna Intersimone

An award-winning journalist with USA Today, Intersimone was recognized for promoting Somerset County’s amenities to reinforce the destination brand and draw more visitors. The Somerville resident writes a “Tuesday Travel” column and regularly contributes to the Wednesday Table section in the Courier News, Home News Tribune, MyCentralJersey.com and DailyRecord.com, derived from her blog, Life Aboard the Traveling Circus. In her blog, Intersimone covers the best restaurants, most exciting activities and can’t-miss destinations in Somerset County, regularly seeking out smaller local attractions and promoting them to a broader, regional audience.

 

  • Service Excellence – Jill Cerchio

The director sales for Hampton Inn & Suites in Bridgewater demonstrated her superior service to visitors to Somerset County when she learned that 200 members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart would be staying at the hotel en route to Arlington National Cemetery, to lay wreaths on the headstones of all service members buried there. She and her team created an exceptional stay, working with the town of Manville to host a welcome reception for the group. They also provided personalized welcome bags for VIPs, made special parking arrangements and conducted numerous conference calls and tours to ensure the hotel was prepared for their arrival. During and after the group’s stay, Jill personally received numerous compliments about the hotel, the entire staff and the hospitality they received.

 

2018 Destination Guide Now Available

In addition to the awards ceremony, each attendee received a copy of Somerset Tourism’s annual Destination Guide at the event. The comprehensive guide provides detailed information about the many lodging, cultural, recreational and educational programs, events and venues throughout Somerset County, and promotes Somerset County as the ideal place to work, live, play and stay. Information about each section of the diverse county is also included. The public can access the 2018 Somerset County Destination guide online at https://visitsomersetnj.org/destination-guide/. Residents and businesses can also pick up a guide at the offices of the Somerset County Business Partnership, 360 Grove Street in Bridgewater, or request a print copy be mailed to them by calling (908) 218-4300.

 

For more information about Salute to Tourism, the Destination Guide, or resources about Somerset County as a leisure or business travel destination, contact Jacqueline Morales at jmorales@scbp.org.

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