Experience Olympia & Beyond Announces 2023 Thurston County Tourism Award Winners and Honors Nominees

OLYMPIA, Wash. (June 2, 2023) — Experience Olympia & Beyond, the region’s visitor and convention bureau, announced the winners of the 2023 Thurston County Tourism Awards, at an event on Thursday, June 1 at the Hands On Children’s Museum. The awards ceremony celebrated community leaders in hospitality and destination development.

The awards honor individuals who work behind the scenes planning events, running businesses and marketing the area to make all guests feel welcome and at home in Thurston County.

The nominees and winners for the 2023 Thurston County Tourism Awards are:

Boldness in Tourism Award
This individual brought new ideas and innovative ways of attracting visitors to Thurston County in the past 12 months. They took risks and thought "out of the box" and the result is growing enthusiasm about visiting iconic destinations in Thurston County.
WINNER: Christen Greene, Team-Tomorrow

• Alicia Elliott, West Central Park Neighborhood Center
• Wayne Fournier, City of Tenino Mayor
• Mitch Lewis, Summit Farms
• Ryan Perkins, Oly Town Artesians Soccer Club/Olympia Ballroom
• Janine Phillips, Hampton Inn & Suites
• Donna Taylor Mayo, Tenino Arts

Excellence in Hospitality Award
This individual is a frontline worker who put in the hours during the past 12 months, made all guests feel welcome and typified the attributes of a gracious and knowledgeable host. The result of their efforts creates a visitor who is eager to return and visit Thurston County again due to their exceptional customer service.
WINNER: Sofie Landis, Sofie’s Scoops

• Jamie Brayshaw, Octapas Café
• Christine Greene, Team Tomorrow
• Emily Dunn, The Marie Bed & Breakfast
• Wayne Fournier, City of Tenino Mayor
• Jay Potter, Hand’s On Children’s Museum
• Mark Sand, Ashley Creek Farm
• Matt Trotter, Well 80

Patrick Knutson Tourism Legend Award
This award honors an individual who has served in the hospitality industry for ten or more years and either currently resides in or has roots in Thurston County. The award winner exemplified the characteristics of leadership, innovation and stewardship in hospitality over the person’s lifetime.
WINNER: Carol Riley, Olympia Harbor Days Festival

• Patty Belmonte, Hands On Children’s Museum
• Christen Greene, Team-Tomorrow
• Andy Moreno, CapCity Presents
• George Sharp, Thurston EDC
• Christian Skillings, Cynara and Iron Rabbit

Experience Olympia & Beyond would like to recognize sponsors of the annual meeting and Tourism Awards:

• Presenting Sponsor: Port of Olympia
• Supporting Sponsors:
  o Olympia Oyster House
  o Budd Bay Café
  o River’s Edge
  o Hands On Children’s Museum

For more information on the 2023 Tourism Awards, please visit www.experienceolympia.com/industry/annual-meeting.

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About Experience Olympia & Beyond
Experience Olympia & Beyond is the official destination marketing organization of Thurston County and Thurston County’s Sports Commission. A naturally inspired, approachable destination situated at the foot of Puget Sound, one hour south of Seattle and two hours north of Portland by car, Washington’s capital community inspires handcrafted getaways. The region is perfect for hosting meetings, sporting events and weddings. With more than 2,700 lodging rooms throughout Thurston County, there are several options, ranging from unique bed-and-breakfasts to hotels. For more information, visit experienceolympia.com or connect on Facebook, Twitter (@Experience_Oly) and Instagram (@ExperienceOly).

Media Contact
Sarah Chase
Public Relations, GreenRubino for Experience Olympia & Beyond
E: sarahc@greenrubino.com