BANGOR – The Greater Bangor Convention and Visitors Bureau presented its Tourism Employee of the Year and Spirit of Hospitality Awards on May 16 at its 11th annual awards dinner and silent auction.

Kathy Gray, lead floor staff member for the Spectacular Event Center in Bangor, was honored with the Tourism Employee of the Year Award for 2006. The award is presented to an employee who consistently reaches above and beyond normal job requirements; who receives excellent ratings from customers and guests; and who contributes to the profit, training and image of local business.

According to Jane Arey, owner of the Spectacular Event Center, Kathy “always has a smile on her face, no matter if she is scrubbing floors, doing piles of dishes, setting up our large ballrooms – and most of all, she is fantastic with our customers. Kathy has demonstrated her dedication to the hospitality industry.”

The Spirit of Hospitality Award was presented to Robin LaVasseur, tour department manager for Cyr Northstar Tours in Old Town. The award is given to an individual whose community service and personal and professional actions consistently foster good will and pride in the tourism industry.

According to Joseph Cyr, owner of Cyr Northstar Tours, “Robin understands the power of the personal touch, [which] has helped increase our group tour business.” Cyr said that he could not “think of anyone else who deserves this award more.”

Donna Fichtner, executive director of the Greater Bangor Convention and Visitors Bureau, said, “The importance of these frontline employees cannot be overstated in the travel and tourism industry. It is these individuals who make or break a property, a manager, a business or leisure experience.”

In 2004, tourism in Maine directly and indirectly generated $13.6 billion in statewide business sales and $531 million in tax revenues for the year, and employed more than 176,600 people amounting to $3.8 billion in payroll, according to the Maine Office of Tourism.