2021 Stella Awards: DMA West Members Honored
Northstar Meetings Group and its leading brands, Meetings & Conventions and Successful Meetings, announced the 2021 recipients of the 5th Annual Stella Awards. A total of 260 organizations from around the globe were honored for consistently delivering quality service and innovation to meeting and event professionals. The list of winners, finalists and their profiles can be found at NorthstarMeetingsGroup.com/Stellas.
We’re highlighting DMA West members that garnered awards this year. Congratulations!
Southwest | Best DMO/CVB
Bronze Winner: Visit Park City, Utah
Early on during the COVID-19 pandemic, Visit Park City promoted the theme “Let’s All Stay Safe To Stay Open,” and business has since managed to continue in this famed mountain destination without much of a pause. This has occurred in part because Park City offers so many wide open spaces that keeping socially distanced is not all that difficult, but the bureau also has relentlessly touted the virtues of safety during this challenging time, encouraging visitors to comply with statewide restrictions and offering ways to get COVID tests and supporting information.
Far West | Best DMO/CVB
Silver Winner: Boise Convention & Visitors Bureau
After successfully supporting its vibrant and resilient Idaho city through the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Boise CVB has set itself up for a stellar future. The bureau’s staff works tirelessly to support meetings and convention business in partnership with local stakeholders such as Boise Airport; Boise Centre, the city’s premier convention facility; Albertsons Stadium, and a team of sales managers and area experts who are eager to offer planning assistance, advice and services to make an event successful.
Bronze Winner: San Mateo County/Silicon Valley Convention & Visitor Bureau
Like many organizations, the San Mateo County/Silicon Valley CVB in California dealt with unprecedented challenges in 2020, but the team quickly pivoted to meet the needs of its partners, becoming industry advocates and conducting virtual educational webinars on a host of topics including sanitation protocols, air-travel recovery, and ways of reimagining meetings and events. The bureau also became a clearinghouse for planners on ever-changing COVID-19 rules and regulations. The bureau looks forward to a much-improved 2022, when its destination with all of its resources, infrastructure and venues will once again shine.
Finalist: Sonoma County Tourism
From the onset of COVID-19, Sonoma County Tourism (SCT) has proven a vital central point for planners to access information about the destination and the ever-shifting regulations regarding the business of meetings during the pandemic. The DMO’s staff are fierce advocates for their bailiwick, a land of acclaimed food and wine, relaxing spas and stunning beauty just 30 miles north of San Francisco. SCT team members also are known to be knowledgeable advocates for sustainable travel, offering solid tips on the bureau’s website.
This year, more than 6,000 votes were cast from around the world for the 603 destinations, hotels and service providers nominated in 17 categories across six regions in the United States and worldwide. Winners were selected for achieving overall excellence, superb food and beverage, professionalism of staff, sustainability initiatives, and other critical aspects of the meetings and event experience.