A Corn Palace worker has received an award from the state for "outstanding performance in hospitality and customer service."
Olivia Larson, a Woonsocket native who is now a college student, received a certificate from the Governor's Hospitality Program for her efforts. She also received a Great Service Star from the Office of Tourism.
She received the award after being nominated by a Corn Palace visitor, whom we assume was a summertime tourist.
We're proud of this accomplishment, not only for Larson, but also for the entire staff at the Corn Palace. It also has us thinking of the importance of courtesy, knowledge and simple customer service within our tourism industry here in Mitchell, and especially as the price of gas increases and the economy spirals downward.
It's amazing what a little enthusiasm for one's job can do to those around them. Everyone has been on vacation and stopped at a restaurant, gas station or tourist attraction and noticed unenthusiastic and sometimes downright rude behavior from employees.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Corn Palace is a city-owned building. It's Mitchell's tourism bread and butter and we expect its employees -- from the top all the way down to the newest part-time worker -- to be polite to the city's guests.
We feel that already is the case and are excited that someone from the Palace has been recognized for exemplary behavior.
Whereas we assume other local businesses that cater to tourists already are doing so, it's good for everyone in Mitchell to promote this approach. Mitchell can promote the Corn Palace and the city itself until it's blue in the face but it's just not good business if we don't follow such promotion with great service when our guests arrive.
We need this especially in the coming years, when the economy could very well bring a downturn in the tourism industry. Mitchell needs to do all it can to attract -- and re-attract -- visitors.
Larson has received letters of commendation, including from Gov. Mike Rounds and from John Brockelsby, head of the governor's Tourism Advisory Board, who said "it's great service from people like you that brings visitors back to our state again and again."
So true.
