Best Bloomington Businesses Honored
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowVisit Bloomington has announced its 2015 Tourism Award winners. Categories include best restaurant or bar, best attraction and best lodging property.
May 28, 2015
News Release
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Visit Bloomington is excited to celebrate the accomplishments of its 2015 Tourism Award Winners. Winners were honored at a ceremony on May 21, 2015. Honorees included:
Best Restaurant or Bar: Michael’s Uptown Caf?
Best Attraction: Indiana University Art Museum
Best Festival or Event: Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market
Best Retail or Gift Shop: Global Gifts
Best Lodging Property: Grant Street Inn
Tourism Partner of the Year: Zac Strabbing, Markey’s Rental & Staging
Tourism Partner of the Year: Sean Hanlon, Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott
Winners in the “Best of” categories were nominated through an open process by Visit Bloomington’s email list subscribers. Five finalists were selected in each category and were voted on by the public, solicited through emails, social media, and the nominees’ social networks. Tourism Partners of the Year were nominated by tourism industry professionals and voted on by Visit Bloomington staff.
Tourism is a major industry in Monroe County, generating $325 million in economic output and more than 7,000 jobs for the county in 2014. For every dollar spent by a tourist in Indiana, 76% stays in the state.
“Honoring those organizations and individuals whose tourism efforts make a significant impact on our community is so important to the mission of Visit Bloomington,” says Julie Warren, Director of Tourism for Visit Bloomington. “Without them, Bloomington wouldn’t be such a vibrant place for residents and visitors.”
2015 marks the 13th year for the Tourism Awards. The luncheon honoring this year’s award winners took place at Fourwinds Resort and Marina, where the winners were recognized and given unique limestone trophies in the shape of a B for Bloomington.
About Visit Bloomington: Visit Bloomington is the destination marketing organization for Bloomington and Monroe County, Indiana. Visit Bloomington works alongside local partners to deliver information on events, attractions and accommodations to future visitors, positively impacting the local economy and culture through tourism development. www.visitbloomington.com.