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Date	ArticleType
2/18/2009
Springmaid Beach Resort Employee Honored as State Hospitality Employee of the Year
Today the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism presented the state’s top travel and tourism honors. The awards were announced at the 44th annual Governor’s Conference on Tourism & Travel. Set at the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa, the conference, entitled “Sustainability: Tourism’s Timeless Trend,” focused on sustainable efforts in the tourism industry and featured leading experts in consumer trends and marketing. During the awards luncheon, Rodney Grant, a maintenance technician at Springmaid Beach Resort, received the state’s Hospitality Employee of the Year award. His nomination from the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce stated “Rodney is a dedicated individual not only to his job but to the family of Springmaid Beach Resort and to the guests that visit. He is outstanding with attention to detail and willing to do all jobs, from assisting a guest with a room key to helping build a fence.” "Rodney exemplifies the kind of person who makes South Carolina such a great place to visit,” said Chad Prosser, director, SCPRT. “Our people truly are our best product." The MBACC recognized Grant as its Hospitality Employee of the Year, an award presented to a nonmanager who works directly with visitors regularly and projects a positive image of his/her business, property, attraction or event and the state of South Carolina. Grant accepted the award at the MBACC’s annual meeting held Oct. 29, 2008, at the Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center Hotel. Other honors presented today were the Bundy Award for contribution to the travel and tourism industry in rural South Carolina, to Marion du Pont Scott Colonial Cup Steeplechase Races in Camden; the Governor’s Cup, to Capital City/Lake Murray County Regional Tourism Board for its work with the Forrest Wood Cup, a major national bass tournament championship; Sustainability Award, to Middleton Place, a national historic landmark, for its extensive, leading-edge efforts in modern sustainability, conservation and eco-friendly practices. The late John Curry, a key figure in the sustainable development of Hilton Head Island, was recognized for his leadership roles with the Sea Pines Company, Heritage Foundation and other civic and business ventures. For more information, visit www.SCGovCon.com or call Marion Edmonds at (803) 361-6144.