"Celebration of Service"

“Celebration of Service” Brings Together Savannah Business Professionals

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Buy Local Savannah, the Downtown Business Association, the Savannah Area Tourism Leadership Council and Savannah Waterfront Association joined forces on Thursday, June 18 for the 3rd Annual Celebration of Service at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center. This special tribute to customer service featured three service awards presentations and a keynote address by nationally acclaimed author and speaker Phillip Van Hooser who later shared more of his expansive knowledge at a specially designed workshop.

10 finalists for the 2009 Celebration of Service awards were recognized at the event:
Liz Bradshaw – Applebee’s at Abercorn & Deerfield
Patricia Bryant – Hyatt Regency Savannah
Gail Buttress - Doyle – THA Group’s Island Health Care
Maria Castro – The Market at Trustees Garden
Bryan Cook – Savannah Marriott Riverfront
Jincy Cook - Manchester – Carriage Jewelers
Donna Marchant – Lens Crafters @ Oglethorpe Mall
Daniel Robertson – Live Wire Music Hall
Mary Anne Street – Tybee Vacation Rentals
Stephen Wolf – The Treasure Chest

From this pool of service professionals, three awards for exemplary service were presented to the following individuals:

Patricia Bryant, front office agent at the Hyatt Regency Savannah, has been described as courteous and outgoing, friendly and helpful – not only toward customers, but toward her co-workers as well. She demonstrates genuine sincerity in their daily interactions with others and receives positive customer comment cards on an almost daily basis. Patricia treats every guest that walks up like treasured friends she has been waiting all day to see! She takes the time to engage her guests and learn more about them and in doing so, is always able to exceed expectations for their stay, providing them with little “extras” that make all the difference! She is a rare individual that can change any unpleasant moment into the absolutely best stay the guest has ever had!

Gail Buttress-Doyle, a nurse care manager at the THA Group’s Island Health Care, has been described as an outstanding professional who possesses a powerful blend of expertise specific to her field, compassion and caring. She is well thought of not only by her patients, but also by her co-workers. Specializing in home health care, which by nature is a more intimate type of care, she has a way of making her clients feel comfortable and reassured by her professionalism and charm. She lovingly refers to her patients as her “babies” – no matter their age. Often referred to in thank you letters from clients, comments such as “encouraging, caring, went beyond the call of duty, and is responsible for my recuperation” are all indicative of her encouraging spirit and nurturing nature.

Stephen Wolf of The Treasure Chest has been in the jewelry business for 15 years and provides each and every customer with exceptional service, regardless of the amount of money they spend in his store. He derives great pleasure in exceeding his customer’s expectations, creating and designing custom jewelry and under-promising and over-delivering for his clients. Stephen is described as someone who enhances the self esteem of all who enter his store, always maintaining eye contact and romancing the product. Knowledgeable and a good listener, he provides such outstanding service that people from many states across the nation call him for advice on his product.

These three individuals were recognized for their undying commitment to service in their respective careers. Phillip Van Hooser’s keynote address really emphasized the details that make these individuals – and others committed to service – special!

“The synergy of the community coming together to celebrate what truly makes individuals and businesses stand apart from their competitors is very exciting! Especially during these tough economic times, focusing on exceptional service is the best way to achieve this,” said Marti Barrow, Executive Director of the Tourism Leadership Council. “This event was as a well-deserved tribute to everyone who strives to offer quality customer service on the job every day.”

ABOUT BUY LOCAL SAVANNAH
The Savannah Area Buy Local group supports the community, as a vibrant and growing networking of more than a 150 locally owned and operated businesses. The organization offers advertising discounts, networking, buying opportunities, local identity support, employee development, community action, enhanced company imaging, group advertising, and educational business seminars. Part of the Buy Local Mission Statement expresses the association's goal to enable local businesses to compete with the economies of scale used by franchise companies in the areas such as advertising and purchasing. For more information about Buy Local Savannah visit www.buylocalsavannah.com online.

ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
The Downtown Business Association mission is to promote economic prosperity in downtown Savannah. It offers opportunities for cooperative advertising, coordinates promotional events, and holds monthly luncheon meetings. The association helps provide a forum and a voice for a wide range of businesses and has 200 members. For more information about the Downtown Business Association, please call 912.660-4718 or email savannahdba@hotmail.com

ABOUT THE SAVANNAH AREA TOURISM LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
The Tourism Leadership Council (TLC) is a non-profit professional association of businesses in the tourism and hospitality industry. The organization’s mission is to provide a unified group with committed leadership pledged to promote, protect and serve the interests of the tourism and hospitality industries of the greater Savannah area. Proceeds from the organization’s special events are directed to the programs and activities of the TLC, including scholarships for students pursuing hospitality careers, workforce development initiatives, networking opportunities for industry professionals, educational seminars and training for industry employees and an emergency fund available for members in times of crisis. For more information about the TLC, please call 912.232.1223 or visit www.tourismleadershipcouncil.com online.

ABOUT THE SAVANNAH WATERFRONT ASSOCIATION
The Savannah Waterfront Association has been the primary representative of the River Street area merchants for more than 30 years. Acting as liaison with the City of Savannah and with Chatham County, the Savannah Waterfront Association has represented the merchants in dealing with countless issues as diverse as traffic, refuse, and safety. For more information about the SWA, please call 912.234.4904 or visit www.riverstreetsavannah.com online.