BANGOR – The Greater Bangor Convention & Visitors Bureau held its 13th Tourism Awards Dinner and Silent Auction recently in Orono.

Tourism awards were presented to area businesses and individuals.

The Eagle Award is given to an individual and an organization in the Bangor area which have contributed to the local economy through outstanding contributions of time, efforts and talents.

The Eagle Award for Individual Achievement was presented to Dr. Robert Kennedy of the University of Maine. A Minnesota native, Kennedy has served in faculty and administrative roles at some of the nation’s leading universities.

His constant presence has not gone unnoticed to students and the community. His visibility at sporting, academic, community and statewide events has helped raise the university’s public image to an extraordinary level.

The Eagle Award for Lifetime Achievement was presented to Danny and Carla Lafayette from Lafayette Hotels. For 26 years, the Lafayette Hotel brand has been constantly changing. But one thing that the Lafayettes have always kept the same is the vision, constant consideration and core values that they have for their hotel brand and their support staff.

The Eagle Award for Organizational Achievement was presented to Hollywood Slots of Bangor. The economic impact of Hollywood Slots is impressive, officials said. The organization has employed more than 500 Mainers, has given $7.3 million to Healthy Maine, $3.3 million to the city of Bangor, $13.6 million to the harness racing industry and more than $2 million for University of Maine scholarships and Maine community college funds.

The Bangor CVB Impact Award, a new award, was given to the American Folk Festival. From 2002 to 2004, Bangor was the host of the National Folk Festival. In 2005, the American Folk Festival was introduced to continue the festival tradition in the area.

The three-day event draws thousands of people from the area and beyond by offering more than two dozen of the nation’s finest performing groups, five stages providing entertainment, craft demonstrations and food vendors offering ethnic food, regional specialties and traditional festival favorites. Last year alone, the estimated economic impact of the festival was $6 million throughout Greater Bangor for the weekend.

Julia Haskell of the Bangor Mall was honored with the Tourism Employee of the Year Award for 2008. The award is presented to an industry employee who consistently reaches above and beyond normal job requirements, receives excellent ratings from customers and guests and contributes to the profit, training and image of a local business.

According to Kim Reid, director of mall marketing, Haskell is a “dependable, knowledgeable, thorough, compassionate and professional employee. She works harmoniously with fellow associates, customers and tenants. Julia exceeds expectations in all areas and is a joy to work with. She continually steps up to the plate and is the one you can count on to represent the company in a positive light.”

The Spirit of Hospitality Award was presented to Heidi Suletzki of Bangor International Airport. The award is given for community service, personal and professional actions that foster good will and pride in the tourism industry.

When Rebecca Hupp presented the award to Suletzki, she said, “During regular operations, Heidi can be seen working an Allegiant Air flight, pushing wheelchairs, helping passengers and always offering a kind word or smile.”

In addition, Suletzki has an integral role in handling many of the military transit flights and does a majority of the coordination with the volunteer organization the Maine Troop Greeters.