On Thursday, April 3rd, 2008, over 500 people celebrated the 10th Annual Tourism Awards at Carmen's Banquet Centre. The gala, themed "Its Show Time" was a spectacular event and Tourism Hamilton would like to thank everybody in attendance as well as everybody who helped behind the scenes to make the event one to remember. Once again thank you to our sponsors who made the 10th Annual Tourism Awards a truly spectacular celebratory event!

We look forward to seeing you next year!

Congratulations to all nominees and winners for your outstanding contribution to the tourism industry in Hamilton (winner underlined). 

You can view the winners accepting their awards in the Hall of Fame Gallery - Click Here

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Individual Award - Arts & Entertainment Ambassador 
Dundas Studio Tour 
Hamilton Golden Age Variety Show 
Belma Gurdil-Diamante – Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble
Max Reimer – Theatre Aquarius 
George Sanford – Haunted Hamilton

Individual Award - Convention & Sport Tourism Ambassador 
Patty Alencar – Sheraton Hamilton Hotel
Laurie Ham – Sheraton Hamilton Hotel
Anton Plas – Ancaster Old Mill Road Race
Michael Zajczenko – Around the Bay Road Race

Individual Award - Transportation Representative
Rich Bagdonas – First Student Canada
Captain Brian Brooks – Hamilton Harbour Queen
Marcus Rosen – Hamilton Limo 

Individual Award - Front-Line Customer Service 
Allison Arnold – Sheraton Hamilton Hotel
Eugene Benjamin – The Plaza Hotel
Charmian Galer – Sheraton Hamilton Hotel
Theresa Garcia-Ty – Sheraton Hamilton Hotel
Peter Kopatch – Hamilton Entertainment and Convention Facilities Inc.
Viktor Kremenjas – Sheraton Hamilton Hotel 
Patricia Pickard – OLG Slots at Flamboro Downs
Sue Preston - The Village Bakery
Willie Ranches – Sheraton Hamilton Hotel 
Catherine Skrypka – Royal Botanical Gardens
Ian Walker – Workers Art & Heritage Centre

Individual Awards - Outstanding Long-Service Recognition
Sal Farrauto – Hamilton Entertainment and Convention Facilities Inc.
Zora Field – Sheraton Hamilton Hotel 
Angela Jarrett – Sheraton Hamilton Hotel 
Elsie Picone – Picone's Food Market
Anton Plas - Ancaster Old Mill Race 
Mira Popovic – The Plaza Hotel
Alberto Reynoso – Sheraton Hamilton Hotel

Individual Award - Volunteer of the Year 
Kathy Archer – Mountain Kidz Klub
Marion Dale – Geritol Follies Variety Show
Cathy Rideout – Royal Botanical Gardens 
Stan Shiraishi – Tim Horton's Brier
Kristin Stawiarski – Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble

Individual Award - Lifetime Achievement 
Peter Mercanti - Carmen's Banquet Centre
Lynne Powell - Downtown Dundas B.I.A.

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Business Award - Agri Tourism
Ancaster Old Mill
Dyments Farm
Niagara Fruit Education Centre – Niagara Fruit Institute
Puddicombe Estate Farms & Winery
Rockton World's Fair – Rockton Agricultural Society 

Business Award - Bed and Breakfast
Duck Tail Inn Bed & Breakfast
Glenwood Bed & Breakfast
Homestead House Bed & Breakfast
Rutherford House Bed & Breakfast 

Business Award - Business Improvement Area (B.I.A.) or Shopping District
Concession Street B.I.A.
Downtown Dundas B.I.A.
Downtown Hamilton B.I.A. 
Eastgate Square – Redcliff Realty Management Inc.
International Village B.I.A.
"Merchants of Ottawa St." Advertising Campaign – Ottawa Street B.I.A.
Westdale Village B.I.A. 

Business Award - Event or Festival
2007 Tim Horton's Brier
An Evening with Michael Douglas – Carmen's Banquet Centre
Canadian International Military Tattoo
Concession Street Festival – Concession Street B.I.A. 
Dundas International Buskerfest – Downtown Dundas B.I.A. 
Festival of Friends – Creative Arts Inc.
Food and Drink Festival – Beau Monde Productions
Geritol Follies Variety Show
Hamilton's 10th Annual Mustard Festival – International Village B.I.A.
Hamilton Golden Age Variety Show for the Winter Festival of Lights 
Hannukah Hustle – Shalom Village
James North Art Crawl
The Mum Show – The City of Hamilton 
The Nutcracker – The Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble
Road 2 Hope – City Kidz 
Zimsculpt – Royal Botanical Gardens 

Business Award - Restaurants
Acclamation Bar & Grill
Ancaster Old Mill
Brownies Downtown Fine Food & Spirit
Collins Brewhouse
Koi Restaurant & Cocktail Boutique
Williams Coffee Pub (Waterfront Location) 

Business Awards - Corporate Partner of the Year
AVW-TELAV
Cable 14
First Student Canada
Hamilton International Airport 
Hamilton Limo 
Puddicombe Estate Farms & Winery
WestJet 

Business Awards - Rookie of the Year
Courtyard by Marriott Hamilton Hotel 
flyglobespan 
Glass Under Glass
Hamilton Limo
Hamilton Waterfront Fishing Derby - Hamilton Waterfront Trust
J-Core Marketing 

Business Awards - Tourism Business of the Year 
Brott Music Festival
Hamilton International Airport
Haunted Hamilton Ghost Walks 
OLG Slots at Flamboro Downs
Royal Botanical Gardens 
Sheraton Hamilton Hotel
Staybridge Suites 

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Marketing Award - Tourism Travel Story 
Hamilton International Airport 
Paul Gessel, Article in The Ottawa Citizen
Jill Ellis-Worthington, Article in The London Free Press 

Marketing Award - Tourism Website
African Lion Safari
Ancaster Old Mill
Art Gallery of Hamilton
Canadian International Military Tattoo 
Fiddlers 3 - Sheezo Media Group Inc
Haunted Hamilton 

Marketing Award - Brochure or Promo Piece
"20th Anniversary Summer Brochure" - Brott Music Festival
Ancaster Old Mill
Brownies Downtown Fine Food & Spirit 
"Buy Local! Buy Fresh! Food Map & Directory" - Hamilton Eat Local Project
Canadian International Military Tattoo
"The DownTOWNER Magazine" - Downtown Hamilton B.I.A.
"Group Tour Package" - Royal Botanical Gardens
"Hamilton's Mustard Festival 10th Anniversary Cookbook" - International Village B.I.A.
"Haunted Hamilton Ghost Walks" - Haunted Hamilton
"Passport to Hamilton Map" - Hamilton Hub Minor Hockey
Puddicombe Estate Farms & Winery
"Volume 3: The Rhythm Chapter CD" - Fiddlers 3 
"Waterfront Brochure" - Hamilton Waterfront Trust 

Marketing Award - Customer Service Story
Tom Ippolito - First Student Canada
Hamilton International Airport 

Standing Ovation - Special Recognition Awards
Shirley Elford - Clairford Studio Glass
Ken Ling - Hamilton Mardi Gras Festival

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Judging Committee Members
President's Panel 
Mark Farrugia, La Piazza Allegra
John Gibson, Hamilton International Airport
Sue Vattay, Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology

Hamilton Marketing Professionals 
Laura Babcock, Powergroup Communications
Randy Miller, Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology
Theresa Syer, Syer Hospitality Group Inc. 

DMO's 
Pam Belgrade, Tourism Burlington
Shelley Merlo, Niagara College, Hospitality and Tourism
Tim Simmonds, Town of Oakville, Economic Development