The Wyoming Office of Tourism is accepting nominations

for the 3^rd Annual Statewide “REACH” Awards  

Four Nomination Categories:

• Customer Service Organization of the Year
• Customer Service Employee of the Year
• Industry Partner of the Year
• Destination or Attraction of the Year

The Wyoming Office of Tourism presents the

3^rd Annual REACH Awards  

As part of National Travel and Tourism Week in Wyoming, the Wyoming Office of Tourism is honored to present the 3rd annual “REACH” Awards.  

These awards for Rare and Exceptional Achievement for Customer Service and Hospitality recognize business and individual contributions to the travel and tourism industry. These businesses and individuals have demonstrated outstanding service in the tourism and hospitality industry and have enhanced Wyoming’s reputation as a first-class visitor destination. The Wyoming Office of Tourism is requesting that you nominate hospitality and tourism industry colleagues who show commitment to providing outstanding service to Wyoming visitors. From this pool of nominations, one employee, business or destination will be selected in each category as the recipient of the “REACH” Award. 

Instructions for nominating an individual or organization:

Nominations will be accepted four categories: Customer Service Employee of the Year, Customer Service Organization of the Year, Industry Partner of the Year, and Destination/Attraction of the Year. All nominations must include a letter of nomination from the sponsoring individual or organization, as well as relevant supporting documents. All nominations must be received by Tuesday, April 2nd, 2013. 

Customer Service Employee of the Year (2012)

For any employee in the hospitality and tourism industry who has demonstrated outstanding contributions in customer service. For example, a guest sent in a letter about the exceptional service they received, or a back of the house employee went beyond regular job duties to assist a customer. 

Required Information:

In the letter of nomination, please include: the category for which you are nominating, the employee’s name, the employer, and a thorough description of the accomplishments and reasoning for recognition. Examples of supporting documents may include letters from guests, certificates of recognition from the organization, or letters of support from co-workers. 

Customer Service Organization of the Year (2012)

For any organization in the hospitality and tourism industry who has demonstrated an exceptional contribution to creating a culture of customer service within the organization. For example, a business who has implemented a customer service program, or who continually recognizes the importance of customer service and creating that culture among their employees. 

Required Information:

In the letter of nomination, please include: the category for which you are nominating, the name of the organization, the owner/manager, and a thorough description of the accomplishments and reasoning for recognition. Examples of supporting documents may include letters from guests, certificates of completion for customer service related training, or letters of recommendation from outside organizations that can attest to the culture of service. 

Industry Partner of the Year (2012)

For any state, federal or tribal agency partner who has demonstrated outstanding support and advocacy for the hospitality and tourism industry. For example, an industry partner who has actively worked with tourism and legislative leadership to accomplish a project or activity that enhances the tourism industry.

This nomination may be for an individual, an agency or an organization. 

Required Information:

In the letter of nomination, please include: the category for which you are nominating, the name of the organization/agency/individual, and a thorough description of the accomplishments and reasoning for recognition.
Please include at least three additional letters of support. 

Destination or Attraction of the Year (2012)

For any local community, destination or attraction that has demonstrated an exceptional effort and commitment towards tourism and hospitality development. For example, a destination or attraction that has completed a tourism related project/plan to make their community more visitor friendly or contribute to the tourism infrastructure. 

Required Information:

In the letter of nomination, please include: the category for which you are nominating, the name of the community/destination/attraction, the name of that entity’s leader/manager, and a thorough description of the accomplishments and reasoning for recognition.
Please include at least three additional letters of support. 

All nominations must be submitted by April 2nd, 2013.

Please submit nomination forms to:

Shannon Stanfill, Visitor Services Manager

Wyoming Office of Tourism

email: shannon.stanfill@wyo.gov

fax: 307-777-2839
5611 High Plains Road
Cheyenne, WY 82007   

Statewide REACH Awardees will be invited to the REACH Awards Luncheon.  This year the REACH Awards will be held as part of the National Travel and Tourism Week celebration.  The Awards ceremony will be May 7th, 2013 in Wind River County at the Wind River Casino.  Awardees will be notified by mid-April and will be offered a travel reimbursement of up to $100 to attend the event.

SWEEPSTAKES PACKAGE

Win a $2,025 ‘Sheridan Stay’ for four (4) in Sheridan, Wyoming and our majestic Bighorn Mountains – Voted #1 Western Town, #2 Distinctive Destination in the Nation  & and multiple years in the Top 10 Towns for Outdoorsmen in America!  

The warm and friendly locals will welcome you into our historic community where spectacular, snow-capped peaks of the Bighorn Mountains backdrop Sheridan’s rolling hills.  Visitors enjoy embracing The West at its Best . . .  where cowboys work and play!  One entry per household accepted, with vacation available from May – October 1, 2013, to include: 

• 3 nights lodging at the Holiday Inn, including lovely amenities of restaurants, lounge and pool, located in historic Sheridan, while enjoying
• Breakfast daily
• $100 credit toward dining at the elegant Sugarland Mining Co.
• 2 nights lodging at Elk View Inn with many amenities including restaurant, lounge and pool located in the Bighorns
• Breakfast buffet 2 mornings
• Dinner both nights
• ATV the Big Horns with 20% discount for 4 ATV’s
• Personal tour of remnants of the historic Tongue River Tie Flume in the Bighorn Mountains and admission to the Sheridan County Museum presenting our colorful cultures, commerce & characters.
• Enjoy an afternoon with the Sheridan County Museum Director – for a Museum tour and to develop your personalized field trip of authentic western history that appeals to your interests

Take time to tour and shop the Historic Downtown’s 46 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.  Attend one of 30 rodeos or a polo match, visit a mansion and museums, ride a trolley, relax in parks with an elk and buffalo refuge, and explore the city-wide walking paths.  The pristine Bighorns offer a paradise of outdoor adventures, ranging from grand slam fishing to wildlife and wildflower viewing!Wyoming’s ‘Golf Capital’ offers 4 challenging courses, with distinctive options and majestic views.

Click her for your chance to Win a Sheridan Stay

Enjoy exploring The Sheridan Channel’s “real”showcase of what the Sheridan area has to offer to visitors with the many and varied tourism attractions in the King of Cowboy Towns!

The Sheridan Channel is dedicated to providing viewers with information about current events, activities and attractions available in Sheridan, Wyoming. The channel really focuses the spotlight on the many rich experiences awaiting visitors, as well as area residents who haven’t yet experienced these attractions offered.

Here is a sampling of the videos pertaining to a variety of popular activity interests located throughout the Sheridan Travel and Tourism’s Web Site in the videos section under ‘Additional Information‘:

To further promote our community, The Sheridan Channel was launched by the City of Sheridan, Optimum and Wayward Films – along with Sheridan Travel and Tourism, the Sheridan County Chamber, Downtown Association, and Forward Sheridan.

This year leave the hustle and bustle of the city and travel to a less complicated time and place. The friendly folks of Sheridan look forward to sharing their holiday traditions and winter adventures with you.

Strolling With the Elves Does your Christmas shopping begin with fireworks, carolers, musicians, a beautifully decorated downtown, pictures with Santa and homemade chili? How about rides on a trolley, carriage, hay wagon or miniature train? No? Then you need to come to Sheridan, the day after Thanksgiving for the 17th anniversary of the Christmas Stroll, Friday, November 23rd.

Snow Play Speed across alpine meadows on a snowmobile, take a leisurely snowshoe trek on mountain trails, or try a bit of ice fishing with a local outfitter. Just outside of town, the majestic Bighorn Mountains offer endless snow adventures during the winter months.

Warm Up Visit some of the sites in the Historic Main Street District such as the internationally famous Kings Museum and Saddlery where the artistry of Don King’s leather work and saddles is displayed.

 Win a Sheridan Stay!

Does your Christmas shopping begin with fireworks, carolers, musicians, a beautifully decorated downtown, pictures with Santa and homemade chili? How about rides on a trolley, hay wagon or miniature train? No? Then you need to come to Sheridan, the day after Thanksgiving!

This year will mark our 17^th anniversary of Christmas Stroll. On Friday, November 23^rd, from 4:00 to 8:00 pm, Main Street in our historic downtown will be shut down to vehicle traffic to allow visitors, locals, families and friends to stroll downtown to do some Christmas shopping.

Christmas Stroll is a great time to get your shopping done early. Sheridan’s downtown has a fantastic mix of specialty gifts, clothing, shoes, home decorations, crafts, sporting goods, kitchenware, bath products, art, furniture, antiques, books and of course western wear. Think of how many people on your Christmas list fit into those categories.

To keep with Sheridan’s fine tradition, be sure to pick up your collector Stroll button! Each button features a unique number. If the number on your button matches the winning button number posted in a participating store, you win a gift from that store! Almost 100 stores participate, so that is 100 chances to win! And as if that wasn’t good enough, button holders can also register for a weekly $100 prize drawing each time they visit a participating business. Then all of these registrations are entered into the Grand Prize drawing for $1,000. Now that’s a Merry Christmas!

If you want to experience a true family-friendly town shopping experience, we will see you in Sheridan on November 23^rd. For more information on the Christmas Stroll, call the Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce at 307-672-2485.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING has a new reason to celebrate thanks to a new ranking by Livability.com. The King of Cowboy towns was named in Livability.com’s Top 10 Small Towns.

Livability.com narrowed down the original list of 500 Best Places to Live using a range of factors. Population, median household income, crime rate, and unemployment were a few of the first categories considered. Once the initial selections, the next set of criteria evaluated lifestyle amenities like outdoor activities, museums, art galleries, community events, and performance venues.

Sheridan is cradled in the majestic Bighorn Mountains, a popular destination for sportsmen and outdoor recreation enthusiasts. Sheridan has worked to share its frontier roots while simultaneously looking ahead. In Sheridan’s Historic Main Street District there are more than 46 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. The King’s Museum, Bradford Brinton Memorial and Museum, Trail End State Historic Site, and Mandel Cabin are a few of the museums and historic sites in Sheridan where residents and visitors can look back through the town’s wild west past. Just outside of town, there are living history displays and reenactments at forts and battle sites.

While history is preserved in Sheridan, the new west can be seen here as well. Modern parks, downtown sculptures, summer street festivals and concerts, and championship golf courses are just a few new west additions. Seasonal festivals such as the Big West Arts Festival and WYO Rodeo highlight some of Sheridan’s cultural attractions. Residents also enjoy a low unemployment rate and diverse business climate. All of these were considered in Liveability.com’s decision.

Sheridan’s warm, small town atmosphere, rich history, and varied recreational opportunities have attracted notice for years. Sheridan was named one of the 2011 Dozen Distinctive Destinations by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the King of Cowboy Towns by Western Horseman Magazine.

To learn more about Sheridan, Wyoming visit www.sheridanwyoming.org or contact Penny Becker at Stt@sheridanwyoming.org.

HOWDY PARTNER,

While big cities are full of crowds, this holiday season escape to the tranquility and hospitality of the ‘West at its Best’. Just named in the Top 10 Small Towns by livability.com, Sheridan, Wyoming is rich in frontier heritage, American art, and adventure.

Explore these varied and fun events while in Sheridan:

• OCTOBER  25-28, Winner of three 2011 Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical, Cole Porter’s classic stars your favorite local talent in an unforgettably fun and willfully silly musical at the WYO Theater!
• NOVEMBER 23 ANNUAL CHRISTMAS STROLL – Regionally acclaimed kickoff to the Christmas season in Historic Downtown Sheridan, encompassing horse-drawn wagon and trolley rides, prize giveaways, live entertainers, lighting contest, refreshments, Santa Claus visits, shopping & fireworks!
• NOVEMBER 25-DECEMBER 23 BRADFORD BRINTON MEMORIAL & MUSEUM 22nd ANNUAL HOLIDAY SHOW-Exquisite art in an ideal scenic foothills setting.
• DECEMBER 7-9 TRAIL END STATE HISTORIC SITE HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE – Sheridan’s popular historic museum comes alive with the sights, sounds and scents of Christmas all rolled into one three-day event, featuring nine performances by local musicians.
• DECEMBER 21 146th FETTERMAN BATTLEFIELD TOUR– Living history uniforms and weapons demonstration. followed by walking tour of the battlefield where Captain Fetterman and command of 80 were defeated by Warriors.

This year leave the hustle and bustle of the city and travel to a less complicated time and place. The friendly folks of Sheridan look forward to sharing their holiday traditions.

Penny L. Becker, Executive Director

Sheridan Travel and Tourism

Sheridan, Wyoming – Voted #1 Western Town in America!

307-673-7120 -stt@sheridanwyoming.org

www.sheridanwyoming.org

This year’s show will be held on May 18th – 19th – 20th, 2012, in the Holiday Inn.  The show is open 9 to 5 on Friday and Saturday and 9 to 2 on Sunday.  FREE ADMISSION!  See – Compare – Buy!  Meet company owners, representatives and dealers in person selling leather and leather-related products.

42 different workshops are being offered for all skill levels starting Monday, May 14 through Sunday, May 20th.  Registration and fees apply.  The annual Free Leathercrafting Workshop for Kids (for those under 19 years of age) is offered on Saturday morning, 9 to 12:30 in the Holiday Inn’s Chaparral Room.  The free Trade Show Information Booklet contains all you need to know about the trade show, workshops, awards reception and other events.

The 11th World Leather Debut gallery will again take place in the Sugarland Dining Room (located in the Holiday Inn) for your enjoyment and amazement.  It gets bigger every year!  The public is invited and there is no cost to view the gallery.

While in Sheridan, have an unforgettable western experience in an area that is rich in history with forts, museums, and the best golf courses Wyoming has to offer, surrounded by the majestic Big Horn Mountains.  Take time for western shopping in Sheridan’s unique shops. You can also visit www.sheridanwyoming.org.

To order a Trade Show Information Booklet, contact The Leather Crafters & Saddlers Journal, toll free 888-289-6409 or 715-362-5393 or visit the website at www.leathercraftersjournal.com.