2011 George S. Mickelson Great Service Awards

The George S. Mickelson Great Service Award honors a business, community, or organization that has done an exemplary job of exceeding visitors’ expectations in customer service. It marks the culmination of a yearly hospitality program that involves hospitality training, customer comment cards, an employee recognition program, and an application for the Great Service Award.

Each 2011 winner receives a $1,000 credit to use in any of the Department of Tourism’s cooperative advertising programs in 2012.

Two George S. Mickelson Great Service Awards were awarded for 2011:

Presented to
Country Inn & Suites,
Watertown

Photo of Governor Daugaard and Country Inn & Suites, Watertown, staff.
Governor Dennis Daugaard presents the
2011 George S. Mickelson Great Service Award
to Country Inn & Suites, Watertown,
at the 2012 Governor's Conference on Tourism.

downloadable, hi-res version of this photo (300 dpi)

Watertown's Country Inn & Suites believes hospitality never ends. And that a genuine smile is a great asset that promotes contagious, healthy feedback from every guest.

Staff participate in hospitality training by attending the Governor's Conference on Tourism and taking part in the Department of Tourism’s free online training.

They also provide staff with community-sponsored and corporate customer service training throughout the year.

Country Inn & Suites has participated in the Governor’s Great Service certificate program and has received the Great Service Star designation 12 times since the program began in 1995.

Their promotion of positive attitudes and better tomorrows is one of reasons the Country Inn & Suites in Watertown is a recipient of one of this year's awards.

And,
Presented to
Pioneer Auto Show

Photo of Governor Daugaard and Pioneer Auto staff
Governor Dennis Daugaard presents the 2011 George S. Mickelson
Great Service Award to Pioneer Auto Show of Murdo
at the 2012 Governor's Conference on Tourism.

downloadable, hi-res version of this photo (300 dpi)

Pioneer Auto Show has a mission to provide an educational and historically entertaining visit, in a safe and clean environment, provided by a consistently courteous and friendly staff.

Pioneer Auto Show believes the visitor is to be treated as the king of the castle. And that is reflected from the top down. You’ll often find the owners personally greeting guests and giving tours.

Pioneer Auto Show has participated in the Governor’s Great Service certificate program and in 2011, 100 percent of the staff earned this honor. They’ve also earned Great Service Star status 15 times since 1995.

Pioneer Auto has achieved worldwide fame with an appearance on “American Pickers”, one of cable televisions most popular programs.

Thank you to all of our industry members who participate in the Great Service Star program and to all industry staff who go above and beyond in the name of great service. Here are the finalists for the 2011 George S. Mickelson Great Service Award. In addition to the winners, these finalists deserve a big thank you for all they do to make our visitors feel welcome:
Black Hills Central Reservations, Deadwood; Cedar Shore Resort, Chamberlain/Oacoma; Custer State Park, Custer; Deadwood Gulch Gaming Resort, Deadwood; Division of Parks & Recreation - South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks, Pierre; Holiday Inn City Centre, Sioux Falls; Prairie Berry Winery, Hill City; Rapid City Convention and Visitors Bureau, Rapid City; Redlin Art Center, Watertown; Reptile Gardens, Rapid City; Royal River Casino, Flandreau; Wylie Park, Aberdeen; and Xanterra Parks & Resorts.