Vermont Chamber of Commerce

Awards and Events

Vermont Chamber Hospitality Council Announces 2009 Award Winners

Hospitality Gala Held Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at The Essex, Vermont’s Culinary Resort & Spa.

The Vermont Hospitality Council, the tourism division of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to announce the winners of the five highly anticipated Vermont Hospitality Awards:

Borden E. Avery Innkeeper of the Year: Bud McLaughlin & Bill Wolfe, Holiday Inn, Rutland. This award is the Vermont hospitality industry's most prestigious award, designed for individuals who have held long time, high profile positions in the state's tourism industry. McLaughlin and Wolfe, Vermont Chamber members for 36 years, remain extremely hands-on in the day-to-day management of their Holiday Inn and maintain a strong commitment to further educate and train their staff members.

B&B Innkeeper of the Year: John Perkins & Jay Kerch, The Phineas Swann B&B Inn, Montgomery Center. This award is designed for individuals who continue to demonstrate excellence in the operation and management of a smaller Vermont bed & breakfast or inn. In the past 4 years, Perkins and Kerch have reinvented The Phineas Swann to become a thriving year-round destination choice for travelers to Vermont.

Chef of the Year: Chef Gerry Nooney, Sugarbush Resort & Timbers Restaurant, Waitsfield. This award is designed for an individual with a proven history of supporting Vermont's agricultural economy through the use of local food and products. The Chef of the Year also donates time or services to the community at large through the operation and management of a restaurant in Vermont. Chef Nooney continues to prove his support for the state of Vermont by his commitment to creating new recipes using local food and products. He has touched many Vermonters and visitors with his broad, innovative culinary marketing partnerships.

Restaurateur of the Year: Suzanne Johnson, Tilley's Café, Burlington. This award is designed for an individual who continues to demonstrate excellence in the operation and management of a restaurant in Vermont. A marketing expert and innovative entrepreneur, Johnson contributes to the community and supports her staff in improving their service and knowledge. Tilley’s Café is Vermont’s first green restaurant and Vermont’s only restaurant with valet service.

Allied Member of the Year: Rochelle Skinner, Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, & Recreation. This award is designed for an individual who goes above and beyond in offering a service that supports the hospitality industry in Vermont. Skinner’s exceptional knowledge and involvement in Vermont’s outdoor recreation industry is an inspiration to park rangers, staff and volunteers whom together champion Vermont’s unparalleled natural resources.

Top Ten Events contests for Summer, Fall, and Winter (to see the current Top Ten Events, click HERE)

Apply to be a Top Ten Event - Application Deadline for the Winter 2009/10 Top Ten Event  has passed.

Application Deadline for the Summer and Fall 2010 Top Ten Event has passed. Stay tuned for deadlines and applications for the 2011 awards.

Is your event a contender for the Top Ten List?  Your event qualifies if it is:

  • open to the public
  • appeals to out-of-state visitors and
  • attracts a large and diverse audience (including children).

The events submitted must occur between the following time frames.

Top Ten Winter: November 1 - March 31

Top Ten Summer: April 1 - August 31

Top Ten Fall: September 1 - October 31

An independent panel of judges considers criteria such as:

  • Size and past audience of the event and room for growth within the event.
  • Complete and timely application by the event coordinator.
  • Geographic and seasonal date distribution relative to other events. 
  • Top Ten award winners are chosen to represent, as a whole, the variety of experiences that define Vermont, such as celebrations of arts, history, agriculture, gardening, community, recreation, and so on..

Winners have access to the signature Top Ten logo, as well as additional marketing opportunities. Certificates are awarded to ten winners in each seasonal category.  Top Ten contest winners, their descriptions, and photos, are prominently featured in the Vermont Winter Vacation Guide (circulation 100,000) or the Vermont Vacation Guide for Summer/Fall (circulation 200,000).  Published by the Vermont Chamber Hospitality Council, these guides are the official travel guides of the State of Vermont, fulfilling all inquiries to 1-800-VERMONT and the website of the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing, http://www.vermontvacation.com./

Top Ten winners also appear on the Vermont Chamber's highly visited online events calendar at http://www.visitvt.com,/ and in the Vermont Chamber’s Country Inns and B & Bs brochure.

Questions: Email Karen Foote or call her at 802-223-3443.

Events 

The Vermont Hospitality Council, a division of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, hosts two premier events annually to help promote and support the growth of the hospitality industry: The Taste of Vermont Legislative Reception and the Vermont Hospitality Gala.