Hospitality Heroes | Smithfield & Isle of Wight Convention and Visitor Bureau

Or call us to request one
Toll free: 800-365-9339
Local: 757-357-5182

Congratulations to our

2013 Rhonda Ralph Hospitality Hero of the Year!

Gloria LaBoone with Historic St. Luke's Church

Pictured are Judy Winslow (Tourism Director), Gloria LaBoone (Hero of the Year) and the family of Rhonda Ralph

Our Hospitality Hero of the Year Award was renamed this year in honor of Rhonda Ralph who passed away in 2012 and was a winner of a 2012 Hospitality Hero Award. Rhonda personified true hospitality to all who crossed her path at the 7-11 on S. Church Street where she worked for many years. Rhonda's family joined us for our celebration.

Congratulations to our 2013 Hospitality Heroes!

Our Hospitality Heroes were recognized on May 10th during our National Tourism Month Celebration. Each individual was nominated received a certificate, a gift bag and a hand-made Hospitality Hero pop-up card.

2013 Hospitality Heroes:

Ana Montiel, Arts Center @ 319

Sheila Gwaltney, Arts Center @ 319

Roy Williams, Arts Center @ 319

Bill & Florine Moore, residents of South Church Street

Natina Benson, Hampton Inn & Suites - Smithfield

Brandy Marks, Hampton Inn & Suites - Smithfield

Shelley Jordan, Hampton Inn & Suites - Smithfield

Elsie Dixon, Hampton Inn & Suites - Smithfield

Indiana Brown, Hampton Inn & Suites - Smithfield

Jennell Johnson, Hampton Inn & Suites - Smithfield

Chenita Wells, Hampton Inn & Suites - Smithfield

Gloria Johnson, Hampton Inn & Suites - Smithfield

Karen Willis, Hampton Inn & Suites - Smithfield

Nevenka Berber, Hampton Inn & Suites - Smithfield

Meeta Williams, Hampton Inn & Suites - Smithfield

Kay-Tee Miller, Hampton Inn & Suites - Smithfield

Mike Piker, Hampton Inn & Suites - Smithfield

Jasmine Berber, Hampton Inn & Suites - Smithfield

Helen Lane, Hampton Inn & Suites - Smithfield

Meggon Hobbs, Hampton Inn & Suites - Smithfield

Albert Burckard, Isle of Wight County Historic Resources

Tracey Neikirk, Isle of Wight County Historic Resources

Denise Dooley, Isle of Wight County Historic Resources

Jennifer Jones, Isle of Wight County Historic Resources

Jenifer Williams, Isle of Wight County Historic Resources

Carlene Young, Isle of Wight County Historic Resources

Janice Hicks, I-Ride Transit Services

Kim Slaughter, I-Ride Transit Services

Jeannie Leonard, I-Ride Transit Services

Teddy Jenkins, I-Ride Transit Services

Curtis Boykins, I-Ride Transit Services

Dawn Riddle, Mansion on Main B&B

Melinda Poe, Old Courthouse of 1750

Julie Verdaguer, Olde World Tea Company

Chelsea Schmidt, Olde World Tea Company

Caroline Williams, Olde World Tea Company

Liz Yaew, Pet Persona

The Staff of the Smithfield Ice Cream Parlor

Nicki Johnson, Smithfield Inn

Sarah Bordeaux, Smithfield Inn

John Hardy, Smithfield Inn

Kelly Kelly, United States Postal Service – Smithfield branch

Randy Melton, United States Postal Service – Smithfield branch

Donna Nurney, Smithfield Station

Leslie Dunaway, Historic St. Luke’s Church

Laura Adams, Historic St. Luke’s Church

Gloria LaBoone, Historic St. Luke’s Church

Shirley Everett, Subway Restaurant - Smithfield

Connie Williams, Taste of Smithfield

Lauren Epperly, The Christmas Store

Kris Steil, The Christmas Store

Jim Abicht, The Christmas Store

Kathy Mountjoy, Smithfield & Isle of Wight CVB

Sean Dooley, Smithfield & Isle of Wight CVB

Terry Rhinier, Smithfield & Isle of Wight CVB

Karen Vogel, Smithfield & Isle of Wight CVB

Lisa Dobrott, Wharf Hill Antiques

Butter Bean, Smithfield & Isle of Wight CVB

Sam Tran, Smithfield Gourmet Bakery & Cafe

Carolyn Burke, Smithfield Gourmet Bakery & Cafe

Has someone here in Smithfield or Isle of Wight County

enhanced your visit with us?

If so, let us know!

Smithfield and Isle of Wight County CVB announces

a new program to recognize “front line” employees and volunteers.

As the Smithfield & Isle of Wight Visitor Center numbers continue to increase, we are instituting a program to recognize and thank the rank-and-file front line employees that can “make or break” the visitation experience for the public…everyday. This program is called HOSPITALITY HEROES!

Why are we establishing this program? Because, while marketing and advertising from Smithfield & Isle of Wight Tourism can entice a guest to visit our area once, it is the hospitality experience that the folks representing our attractions, accommodations, restaurants and retail establishments provide, that encourages our visitors to come again and again. Our goal, and the goal of each of your businesses, is economic vitality-the kind that comes from repeat business! The good news--Repeat business is less expensive to capture! The bad news---it’s extremely difficult to maintain because it is experience driven! But here is where the bad news becomes good again-customer loyalty is EVEN stronger if a guest has had a bad experience and it has been well handled with a positive outcome! So this program is about all the folks who make a good visitation encounter, GREAT, and about the folks who turn a negative occurrence into a positive one!

Here’s how the program works. HOSPITALITY HERO postcards will be available at local attractions, accommodations, restaurants and retail establishments throughout the area for visitors to nominate their hero by filling out the card, describing their experience and mailing the card back to the CVB. Guests will also be able to nominate their “Hero” via email at JWinslow@isleofwightus.net.

Next May, we will celebrate National Tourism Week by announcing the names of our HOSPITALITY HEROES and offering special recognition to those who have made an exceptional impression on our guests. Stay tuned for more info!

We look forward to this opportunity to say “thank you” to those who do such a tremendous job offering hospitality to all the visitors to Smithfield and Isle of Wight County!

Hospitality Heroes Poster

Hospitality Heroes Postcard