Annual Meeting
Join us in celebrating the amazing things happening in Thurston County tourism at this year's Annual Meeting on Sept. 4, 2025.
September 4, 2025 | 5:00 p.m.
Indian Summer Golf & Country Club
5900 Troon Ln SE, Olympia
Sponsorship Opportunities
Experience Olympia & Beyond is offering opportunities to our community partners to place their brand in front of top tourism and hospitality leaders from throughout the region, including fellow stakeholders, elected officials, business owners, and our all-important hospitality heroes.
Contact Emily Brooks to reserve your sponsorship! emily@experienceolympia.com (360) 704-7544 ext. 6
Recognizing Thurston County’s Tourism Leaders
Thurston County's tourism industry can only be as successful as the people working behind the scenes planning the events, running the businesses, marketing the area, and of course, making all guests feel welcome and at home here. It's this combined body of work that brings visitors to our area. That said, some individuals truly took hospitality and destination development to the next level in the past 12 months and we want to know about them! Here are this year's nominees:
Boldness in Tourism Award
This individual brought bold, 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", resulting in growing enthusiasm about visiting the iconic destinations in Thurston County.
- Cody Colt, City of Yelm
- Chuck Denney, City of Tumwater
- Jeff Devlin, Best of Olympia Facebook Group
- Amy Harding, Port of Olympia Commissioner
- Tyson Kruger, Nisqually Red Wind Casino
- John Peters, Tumwater Craft District
- Line Roy, City of Yelm
- Gabby Schoolcraft, WoodSpring Suites
- Cheryl Selby, Olympia Arts & Heritage Alliance Museum
- Brandon Staff, Hands On Children's Museum
Excellence In Hospitality Award Nominees
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.
- Ashley Burton, DoubleTree Olympia
- Sam Dinsmore, The Reef & Perkins Family Farms
- Christen Greene, Team Tomorrow, South Sound Block Party, LoveOly
- Chris Knudson, Well 80 & CasaMia
- Marian Licxandru, Pizzeria La Gitana
- Chris Murphy, Marv’s Marvlus BBQ
- Jay Potter, Hands On Children’s Museum
- Brandon Staff, Hands On Children’s Museum
- Joyce Worrell, The Iron Works Boutique
Patrick Knutson Tourism Legend Award Nominees
The Patrick Knutson Tourism Legend Award honors an individual who has served in the hospitality industry for 10+ 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 his or her lifetime.
- Patty Belmonte, Hands on Children’s Museum
- Michael Cade, Thurston EDC
- Christina Daniels, Huber’s Gasthaus
- Kate Gervars, Boston Harbor Marina
- Christen Greene, Team Tomorrow, South Sound Block Party, Love Oly
- Dave Nickerson, City of Tumwater
- Becky Pogue, Offut Lake Resort
- David Schaffert, Thurston County Chamber of Commerce
- Brandon Staff, Hands on Children’s Museum
- Teri Thorning, Olympic Air Show