MEDIA ALERT

On May 7, Visit Fort Wayne will be holding their annual Power of Tourism event, from 11-1:30 pm at the Allen County War Memorial Conference Center.

This year's theme is Music Economy and will include the State of the Tourism Industry Address, Hospitality Awards, and Keynote Speaker Jimmy Wheeler, a native Nashvillian and a seasoned veteran of the music industry. Jimmy has held various positions within Sony Music ranging from sales, marketing, radio promotion and distribution. He left Sony in December of 2019 after 30 years. He spent 2 years in artist management before coming on board as the Director of Business Development for the Tennessee Entertainment Commission.

In addition, the event will center around the Hospitality Awards, given to recognize the thousands of hospitality and tourism professionals in our community who work to serve the 9.2 million visitors who come to Allen County every year, bringing over $1.1 billion in spending to our community.

This year's awards include:

Rising Star Award: Recognizes individuals who have been in the hospitality and tourism industry for fewer than five years and are consistently achieving excellence in their current role.

Power of Tourism Award: Recognizes an individual who has distinguished themselves in the Fort Wayne/Allen County Tourism industry by exemplifying the highest level of leadership and service. As well as taking steps to improve and invest in the future. Nominees are evaluated on professional excellence, values and integrity, and achievements representing our destination's best.

Service Excellence Award: Recognizes employees who provide exceptional service. Nominees are evaluated on attitude, workplace knowledge and familiarity with the community, communication skills, and ability to exceed visitor expectations. These nominees are ambassadors of outstanding service.

Hospitality Leadership Award: Recognizes a management-level employee for leadership in the local hospitality and tourism industry. Nominees are evaluated on management, leadership skills, and their vision for the growth of the hospitality and tourism industry. These nominees display foresight and exceptional leadership skills and have positively impacted the Fort Wayne/ Allen County hospitality industry and the community. 

Diversity Champion Award: Recognizes an individual who, by advocating, educating, developing programs, and raising awareness of DEI and/or accessibility, has strengthened and affected meaningful change to improve diversity, equity, inclusion, and/or accessibility in our hospitality and tourism industry. 

Organization or Business Service Excellence Award: Recognizes the best practices and achievements of an organization or business within our local hospitality and tourism industry. Nominees are evaluated on tourism innovation, community engagement, and customer service. These nominees highlight the best organizational practices that represent outstanding service towards visitors and the community. 

We look forward to celebrating each of these deserving individuals and announcing a winner in each category at the event.

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Visit Fort Wayne, the Fort Wayne/Allen County Convention and Visitors Bureau, is the not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to expand Fort Wayne's economy by attracting convention and leisure visitors. Each year, millions of dollars from visitor spending generate increased commerce, sustained jobs and enhancement of Fort Wayne's Image.

Media Contact:

Kristen Guthrie
Director of Marketing
Visit Fort Wayne
(260) 424-3700
kristen@visitfortwayne.com