HAMMOND – The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority has announced its 2012 Hospitality Award recipients. Nearly 300 members of the tourism and hospitality industries gathered to honor the award winners and welcome the holiday season.
This year’s recipients included the Microtel Inn and Suites of Michigan City as Hotel of the Year; “A Fabulous ’50s – Swank ’60s Christmas” at the Towle Theater as Event of the Year; Marc Chase with the South Shore Civil War Memorial Trail as Attraction of the Year; Joe Michalik of Crown Point as Volunteer of the Year; and State Rep. Charlie Brown as Elected Official of the Year. Bistro 157 was awarded Restaurant of the Year by the SSCVA.
In honor of his continued dedication to the tourism industry, Chester F. Dobis was awarded with the Lifetime Service Award. Dobis served for 42 years as a state representative, and authored the legislation founding the Lake County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
In addition to the Lifetime Service Award, the South Shore CVA will present an annual award known as the Chester F. Dobis Award, Public Service in Hospitality to recognize individuals that go above and beyond in advocating for the hospitality and tourism industry. The inaugural award was presented to John Livengood, president of Indiana Hotel Lodging Association, for his dedication to the association for the past 30 years.
