TOP HOSPITALITY PERSONNEL TO BE HONORED AT DIAMOND SERVICE AWARDS

Bloomington, MN (May 11, 2022) – The Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau will hold the 24th annual Diamond Service Awards on Sunday, May 15, 2022 at the DoubleTree Bloomington South. After a difficult two years, we are looking forward to reuniting the Bloomington hospitality industry at our signature event and honor the dedicated employees who make our destination such an outstanding place to visit.

This year’s gala will recognize individuals in our industry who were finalists for the 2020 Diamond Service Awards, which will make the evening even more special by honoring their perseverance and unwavering commitment to outstanding hospitality! The gala event will recognize front-line service personnel from Bloomington’s hospitality industry, including employees from hotels, restaurants, retail, and attractions.

15 awards will be given in the following categories: Best Retail Personnel, Best Bartender, Best Transportation Personnel, Best Food Production Personnel, Best Bus/Dishwasher, Best Hospitality Administration, Best Guest Relations Personnel, Best Housekeeping Personnel (Full Service and Limited Service), Best Engineer/Maintenance Personnel, Best Hotel Guest Services (Full Service and Limited Service), Best Hotel Restaurant Personnel, Best Restaurant Personnel, and Best Banquet/Catering Personnel.

From the hundreds of nominees that participated in the interview process for the Diamond Service Awards, just 75 were selected to be finalists. The recipients will represent the best of Bloomington hospitality, which is the number one employer in the city and helps to drive visitation to the top tourism destination in the state, Mall of America. Diamond Service Awards celebrates and honors the hard work of our city’s hospitality employees, hoping to build overall enthusiasm for Bloomington and to keep visitors coming back.

“It’s been a joy to honor Bloomington hospitality employees over the past 24 years of the Diamond Service Awards,” said Bonnie Carlson, president and CEO of the Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau. “This year, we are excited to come together to celebrate the best and brightest of the industry, who have persevered and continue to make Bloomington an outstanding place to visit.”

In addition to the Diamond Service Awards honorees, five employees with a combined 177 years of experience will be inducted into the Hospitality Hall of Fame: Dawn Freid and Barbara Phillips from Sheraton Bloomington Hotel, Kathy Sarff and Mick Elder from DoubleTree Bloomington South, and Tairie Starr from Chapel of Love. The Spirit of Hospitality Award will also be presented to US Foods.

At the beginning of the evening, new Bloomington Mayor Tim Busse will announce the winners of the Food Safety Awards, managed by Bloomington Food Collaborative and the City of Bloomington’s Advisory Board of Health. The Food Safety Awards are given to establishments that demonstrate dedication to the highest standards in food preparation.

The 3rd annual Diamond Service Cocktail Challenge was also held in the weeks leading up the event. Seven bartenders from Bloomington hotels, restaurants, and bars participated for the chance to serve their signature drink at the Diamond Service Awards. This year’s winner, Norm Kimball Jr. from Hyatt Regency Bloomington-Minneapolis, created the “South Loop Refresher,” which celebrates the coming of spring with a nod to Hyatt Regency’s neighborhood.

For more information about the Diamond Service Awards, visit http://www.bloomingtonmn.org/DiamondServiceAwards.

The Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau is the official destination marketing organization for the city of Bloomington, Minnesota. Bloomington is located adjacent to Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. Bloomington is home to Mall of America, the nation’s largest retail and entertainment complex, and has the largest concentration of hotels in the state of Minnesota. For more information, visit bloomingtonmn.org