Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau Hosts 2017 Toast to Tourism Event Reception

The annual Toast to Tourism event was Thursday, May 11th at The Atrium. Each year, Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau (BCTCB) hosts the event and dinner reception to honor the companies, businesses and individuals that enhance Butler County’s tourism industry. Each year, 15 organizations are awarded grants through Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau’s Grant Awards Program to move forward with various projects that will enrich the Butler County visitor’s experience. Additionally, an individual is recognized as the Ambassador of the Year for their extraordinary contributions to Butler County’s tourism industry and scholarship awards are distributed to three local college students.

WINNERS OF THE 2017 BCTCB GRANT AWARDS:

• Saxonburg Area Business Association
• SurfSup Adventures
• Butler Downtown
• Regatta at Lake Arthur
• Butler Little Theatre
• Get Fit Families
• Buttercup Woodlands Campground
• Derailleur Bike Shop
• City of Butler
• Hotel Saxonburg
• Zanella Milling Inc.
• Pinehall at Eisler Farms
• Moraine Preservation Fund
• Butler Radio Network
• Glade Run Lake Conservancy

Slippery Rock University students, Angela Delune (Cranberry Township), Resort, Recreation and Hospitality Management Major and Courtney McCalmont (Harrisville), Communications-Integrated Marketing Major received scholarship awards along with Butler County Community College student, Meghan Steele (Mars), Hospitality Management Major. Kathy Allen of Armstrong Farms Bed & Breakfast and Event Facility was recognized as the Ambassador of the Year.

BCTCB also launched the Butler County Service Excellence Award (BCSEA), as a new, county-wide customer service awards program. The overall goal of BCSEA is to cultivate an environment where excellent customer service is recognized and rewarded. The service provided by each and every business in the area plays an important role in positioning Butler County as a desirable destination to visit, work and play. Recognizing that, “It’s the little things that count,” especially when it comes to customer service, BCTCB developed a program that recognizes employees across the county who create positive customer experiences and go above and beyond expectations. These ‘things,’ when done right, are vital to the success of any business and they are particularly important in the success of Butler County’s tourism industry.

The Butler County Service Excellence Award program will also provide service training resources for businesses to create a culture of service amongst their employees. Scott Brown, customer service expert and author of Who Cares? Creating a Culture of Service in your Business, will provide training to interested parties on Tuesday, May 23rd at Regional Learning Alliance at 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Ambassadors of Excellence are handpicked to observe and recognize employees who exemplify stellar customer service. Ambassadors will visit local businesses to find employees who are providing exceptional service. Once identified, the employee will be recognized by the Ambassador with a pin, indicating that they have been nominated as a BCSEA finalist.

A winner will be chosen out of Butler County’s fourteen business categories and announced at BCTCB’s General Membership Meeting on Thursday November 16, 2017. The program is ongoing with the second round of nominations beginning immediately.

ABOUT BUTLER COUNTY

Butler County is located along Interstate 79 in the rolling hills just north of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Butler County is filled with gorgeous scenery, recreational activities and more than 200 years of history. It’s the perfect place for a weekend getaway with upscale hotels, charming bed and breakfasts and rustic camp sites. Moraine State Park is the centerpiece of the county’s outdoor life with more than 15,000 acres offering fishing, boating, biking, hiking and hunting. Go to www.VisitButlerCounty.com for more information.