The Syracuse Convention and Visitors Bureau (SCVB) recently announced Tracey Kegebein, vice president of sales and services, received the 2010 New York State Hospitality and Tourism Association’s (NYSH&TA) Tourism Executive of the Year Award.
The award is one of 11 annual Stars of the Industry awards distributed by NYSH&TA. The Stars of the Industry awards program honors employees of the hotels, motels and tourism-related businesses throughout the state who best represent the quality service and spirit of the tourism and hospitality industry.
The Tourism Executive of the Year award recognizes a management executive who has demonstrated outstanding contributions of leadership and service to his or her community. The nominees are judged on performance that goes above and beyond normal job responsibilities and outstanding and unusual service to the industry.
Kegebein has worked in the tourism industry for 24 years and has worked at the Syracuse Convention and Visitors Bureau for 23 of them. In 1994, she was promoted from SCVB convention sales manager to director of sales and in 1997 she took over the SCVB services department as well.
Kegebein is a Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) which is an executive program in Destination Management awarded by Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI).
In March, she will mark another milestone in her career as she will become president of the Association of Convention Sales and Marketing Executives (ACME), which is a partnership of Convention Bureaus and Destinations Centers.
The NYSH&TA is a not-for-profit trade organization representing more than 1,400 member businesses and individuals in the lodging and attractions industry. NYSH&TA’s mission is to provide a strong voice for the New York State hospitality and tourism industry, and to protect and enhance the financial welfare of the industry.
It was also announced the Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel and Conference Center earned a 2010 Stars of the Industry award, the NYSH&TA’s Good Earthkeeping Award.
This year’s Stars of the Industry award recipients represent a range of professionals in the hospitality and tourism industry in different regions throughout the state.
All 2010 Stars of the Industry award recipients were recognized at the 2010 Stars of the Industry Gala Awards and Banquet at the Crowne Plaza in Albany New York on March 1.
