The California Travel Industry Association (CalTIA) has announced its 2010 CalTIA Industry Awards. The awards are presented to individuals who through their efforts and success best exemplify the commitment and excellence that have sustained California as the nation´s top travel destination.
CalTIA Chairman of the Board Gary Sherwin, President and CEO of Visit Newport Beach, Inc., said: “The winners best represent the essence of what California is and how California tourism enhances the state´s character nationally and abroad in the services they provide and in the way they promote those services. These awards recognize the best in our travel industry´s dedication to innovation, sustainability, stewardship and good citizenship.”
The award categories in 2010 are for Chef of the Year, Winery of the Year, Tourism Stewardship and Tourism Champion of the Year. The 2010 winners are as follows:
· CalTIA Chef of the Year Award: Suzanne Goin
The Chef of the Year Award is given specifically for an individual chef or restaurant that has created a dining establishment and experience that effectively marries the culinary arts with the tourism industry, developing it as a tourism attraction in its own right.
· Suzanne Goin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzanne_Goin) and her restaurants in the Los Angeles area – The A.O.C (www.aocwinebar.com), Lucques (www.lucques.com) , Tavern (www.tavernla.com) and The Hungry Cat – have won many awards, including the James Beard award for Best Chef, as well as receiving recognition from bothFood & Wine and Gourmet magazines. With her flawless culinary instincts, Suzanne Goin has been described as the picture-perfect California chef, demonstrating outstanding passion and skill in using only the best ingredients, combining them to give any diner an unforgettable experience.
· CalTIA Winery of the Year: Wente Vineyards
Beyond being recognized for the winemaker’s excellent wine, a major component tothe decision process includes Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar (The) – Tustin’s contribution to developing the California tourism brand.The award recognizes innovation, success and commitment to the travel industry.
Founded more than 125 years ago, Wente Vineyards (www.wentevineyards.com) are the country’s oldest, continuously operated family-owned winery.Still managed by the Wente family, now in its fourth and fifth generation of ownership, Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar (The) – Tustin blends traditional and innovative wine making practices, drawing from 3,000 picturesque acres ofsustainably farmed Estate vineyards. Located just east of San Francisco in the historic Livermore Valley, Wente Vineyards is recognized as one of California’s premier wine country destinations, featuring wine tasting, fine dining and championship golf.
· CalTIA Tourism Stewardship Award: Bill Lane & The Lane Family
The Steward of the Year award is given to the individual or organization that has done the most to protect, preserve, restore, improve, expand, or otherwise enhance California’s natural, cultural, or historical treasures.
Receiving countless awards and recognitions for their endless service to California and the world, the Lane Family’s commitment to community and the environment have been remarkable.From developing Sunset Magazine to spending thousands ofhours conserving and promoting California to the world, Bill Lane is a pioneer in the development and promotion of California, serving its travel and tourism industry for more than 70 years. The signature achievements of his late brother, Mel Lane, were preserving California coastlines as world-class treasures.
· CalTIA F. Norman Clark Tourism Champion of the Year: Huell Howser
The F. Norman Clark Tourism Champion of the Year recognizes excellence in California Tourism, for activities in a specific year or to recognize a body of work in tourism. The award recognizes activities which have contributed to building the image of California and for contributing to increasing visitor arrivals to the state.
Huell Howser (www.calgold.com) has hosted the public television series California’s Gold for 19 years. It is one of the longest running and most beloved television series highlighting California.The success and popularity of the show helped to launch six additional series about life in California and has been endorsed by teachers, library and educational organizations throughout the state. Huell Howser is also a frequent speaker to civic and student groups and is active in numerous charitable, civic and social groups throughout California.
The CalTIA Industry Awards will be presented at the Celebration Dinner, sponsored by Disneyland Resort,to beheld atthe California Conference on Tourism (COT), June 8th at the Parc 55 inSan Francisco. The travel trade and interested members of the general public are invited to attend. Ticket information is available by calling 916-932-2200.
Now in its 29th year since its formation, The California Travel Industry Association (CalTIA) is the unified voice of California’s travel industry, bringing together California’s travel-related businesses to ensure the future health of tourism by collectively carrying out its mission “To bring people together to deliver an exceptional California travel experience through advocacy, education and collaboration.”
More information on CalTIA is available at www.caltia.com
Posted 6/1/10.
