LIVERPOOL - On Nov. 28, the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia (TIANS) hosted the Crystal Tourism Awards of Excellence as the grand finale to the 40th annual tourism summit in Halifax with over 500 people in attendance from all over Nova Scotia.
Two businesses from Queens County - Lane’s Privateer Inn and the Quarterdeck Beachside Villas & Grill - were both recognized at the ceremony for excellence. The Summ
The Summerville business won the coveted Tourism Business of the Year Award, while Lane’s, a mainstay in Liverpool, received a Pineapple Award.
“The Quarterdeck is an outstanding example of a quality tourism business and demonstrates tremendous corporate leadership,” says Darlene Grant Fiander, president of TIANS. “We are very fortunate to have this family run a company which is investing in rural Nova Scotia.”
To win this award, nominations are sent in by other industry partners, businesses or individuals that feel a business has made a significant contribution to the tourism industry. Denise Burgess, general manager of the Quarterdeck, says who sent in their nomination is a mystery, but they were excited and honoured to receive the recognition.
Burgess believes it is their innovative ideas that led to winning the award, including the design of their new lofts, restaurant and recreation centre.
“We have a commitment to growing tourism and seeing its value to the local community and province,” says Burgess.
Lane’s Privateer Inn received a Pineapple Award in celebration of the individuals who go above and beyond to enrich a visitor’s stay in Nova Scotia. Throughout the year, visitors complete Pineapple Award nominations located in hundreds of establishments throughout the province.
“The Pineapple Award was for Susan Lane, who went above and beyond to make someone feel very special,” says Fiander. “Susan’s actions demonstrate the best of what makes Nova Scotia special.”
Fiander is referring to a special wedding that Lane helped orchestrate in the Fort Point Lighthouse last December.
Lane was also a participant in a Taste of Nova Scotia Practices mission that covered Philadelphia and Cape May, New Jersey, connecting like-minded business operators across North America with the hope they could learn from each other. On her trip to Cape May, Lane stopped to meet the Cape May Bread Lady, who happened to mention she had thought of eloping to Nova Scotia. What initially began as a joke became a reality when a staff member from Taste of Nova Scotia contacted Elizabeth Degener, also known as the bread lady, to set the wheels in motion.
“Since we operate the Fort Point Lighthouse,” said Lane, “I thought it would be wildly romantic to get married there.”
Degener and her husband, Josh, were married on Dec. 29 with Lane’s friends helping to decorate and take photographs while Lane’s Privateer Inn provided rooms, a wedding feast and cake.
“All of us were complete strangers to Josh and only three of us had met Elizabeth for 20 minutes in New Jersey,” explains Lane. “What became a chance meeting on our way to the airport became the beginning of a life-long friendship.”
Christine White from Taste of Nova Scotia felt so passionately about this story and the romance of a lighthouse wedding that she wanted to share it, and thus nominated Lane for the Pineapple Award through TIANS.
Lane says she feels so grateful to have won the award and to have Elizabeth and Josh as friends.
“I am incredibly grateful to all of the volunteers who joyfully jumped in to participate in this truly Nova Scotian wedding. I feel humbled to be singled out when, so many were involved, and I thank each and everyone from the bottom of my heart,” says Lane.
Fiander says it’s very important to recognize excellence and celebrate those businesses and individuals doing extraordinary things for the province.
TIANS is committed to representing the best interests of the Industry, enhancing and supporting the development of a competitive business environment, advocating on issues critical to the industry’s success, and most importantly, leading Nova Scotia’s most promising economic sector.
Find out more at
http://www.conferenceontourism.com/
http://www.tians.org/
https://lanesprivateerinn.wordpress.com/
http://www.quarterdeck.ca/
