Minneapolis (May 8, 2025) – Today, as part of National Travel and Tourism Week, Meet Minneapolis announced the recipients of its annual tourism awards. These awards honor individuals, meeting planners, businesses, organizations, and/or groups for their contributions to tourism and hospitality in Minneapolis.

“Our honorees embody the remarkable commitment and spirit that define the Minneapolis tourism and hospitality community and its 30,000-plus workers,” said Melvin Tennant, President & CEO of Meet Minneapolis. “They reflect the very best of our city – delivering excellence and helping position Minneapolis as a top destination for meetings, events and travel. Their efforts elevate the visitor experience and enrich our entire community. Congratulations to all of this year’s award recipients.”

Meet Minneapolis is pleased to recognize the following individuals and groups:

Excellence in Meetings, Events & Conventions Award
Highlights an individual, institution or organization that positively impacts the city for future years.

The GALA Choruses Festival took place in Minneapolis on July 10-14 with approximately 7,000 LGBTQ+ singers from 122 choruses sharing their talents at various venues throughout the city. GALA Choruses’ signature quadrennial event gathers LGBTQ+ choruses from all over North America and the world for five days of singing, connecting and creating. As the largest LGBTQ choral event in the world, it features wall-to-wall concerts, workshops, social events, joy and pride. The GALA Choruses Festival and its thousands of attendees will return to Minneapolis in 2028.

Innovation in Tourism Award
Presented to an individual or organization that contributes to the advancement of the tourism and hospitality community which impacts the destination’s visitors and attendees.

Mich Berthiaume has spent more than 25 years becoming the leading local expert of unique shopping experiences. This is prominent through her work curating successful and memorable local makers markets, from the Mall of America’s Shop Local Market and the Super Bowl to the Dayton's Holiday Market, Promenade du Nord, the Minnesota Twins Gate 34 Experience, and many more. These have brought hundreds of thousands of visitors and shoppers to Minneapolis, creating a buzz of energy and excitement. Berthiaume’s eye for up-and-coming makers has seen many brands open stores of their own after participating in her markets. In addition, Berthiaume sits on Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s Vibrant Downtown Storefronts Workgroup to create new shopping experiences and activations.

Richard Copeland Social Impact Award
This is the inaugural year of this award, which is named for Richard Copeland, a former Meet Minneapolis board officer and trailblazer who believed in building a more equitable future for all. The award honors leadership that creates meaningful and lasting change in our community. It is presented to an individual, institution or organization demonstrating an ongoing commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and access, especially in support of entrepreneurship among Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC).

Andi Otto has served as executive director of Twin Cities Pride since 2022, following 15 years of volunteering and working in various roles with the organization. Under his leadership, Twin Cities Pride has expanded access and representation for LGBTQ+ individuals and elevated one of the largest Pride festivals and parades in the nation. In addition to its cultural significance, the Twin Cities Pride Festival has become a cornerstone of Minneapolis’ tourism economy, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors each year and filling hotels, restaurants and cultural venues across the city. Otto’s dedication ensures that all members of the LGBTQ+ community can be their authentic selves and feel welcomed, supported and celebrated in Minneapolis.

President’s Award
Presented to an individual or organization that contributes significantly to the visitor experience of Minneapolis. This year’s award will be shared between four longtime Meet Minneapolis employees who are retiring in 2025.

Bill Deef retired after an extraordinary 40-year career with Meet Minneapolis. He served in various roles within the organization, most recently as senior vice president of public affairs. He introduced Minneapolis to countless travel professionals and media from around the world, played an instrumental role in initiatives such as the 2017 Foire de Tours, crafted two destination master plans, represented the city with our 12 global Sister Cities partners, and helped pass enabling legislation for Tourism Improvement Districts in Minnesota. Deef's dedication left an indelible mark on our industry and our city.

Madonna Carr will retire from Meet Minneapolis this summer after a 35-year career full of highlights. Under her leadership, the destination services team achieved remarkable success, further enhancing the reputation of Minneapolis. During her time, Carr worked with a wide range of meetings and events – from massive national conventions and sporting events to religious and medical meetings, coin collectors and blind bowlers. Carr excelled in the planning process and enjoyed customers’ meetings successfully come to life.

Kay Russell represented Meet Minneapolis for more than 25 years through its Washington, D.C., office, where she helped elevate the city’s national presence in the meetings and events industry. A mentor and advocate, she founded and supported an educational organization for African Americans in CVB satellite offices and served on the board of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals. Her many honors include the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Capital Chapter Service Award, industry recognition from ConferenceDirect and HelmsBriscoe, and a nomination for the PCMA Visionary Award.

Betty Williams joined Meet Minneapolis in 2000. For more than two decades, she has been instrumental in engaging the faith-based and diversity markets and positioning Minneapolis as a welcoming destination for all. Throughout her career, Williams built lasting relationships with local community leaders and national meeting planners to create a strong network of advocates who help attract future events and bolster Minneapolis' reputation as an inclusive meeting and event destination. She is also a founding member of the Meet Minneapolis Legacy Project, helping to shape the organization's long-term commitment to equity and representation.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Patty Lemke is retiring this summer after a distinguished 35-year career in the hospitality industry, most notably with Kelber Catering, the exclusive caterer and concessionaire of the Minneapolis Convention Center (MCC). She began her journey with Kelber in 1993 and returned in 2016 as General Manager and CEO. Under her leadership, Lemke guided a nationally recognized team dedicated to delivering exceptional guest experiences. She played an instrumental role in advancing Kelber’s legacy of sustainability, including championing local food sourcing, compostable packaging, and reducing food waste by partnering with local farmers and food shelters. Lemke was a champion of internal talent development, mentoring team members and promoting from within, with many current leaders having grown their careers under her guidance. A strong advocate for inclusion, she proudly led a majority women-owned organization with significant female leadership representation.

In addition to the annual awards, Meet Minneapolis recognizes members of the Minneapolis tourism and hospitality community, nominated by their colleagues, for their valuable contributions to the image and culture of our city through outstanding hospitality and service. These individuals are presented with the Meet Minneapolis Hospitality Hero award. The following are the most recent recipients:

• 2024 Q2: Jessica Schugel, Mpls City & Skyway Tours
• 2024 Q3: Patrick Wilson, Hilton Minneapolis
• 2024 Q4: Lucas Forsberg, Hell’s Kitchen
• 2025 Q1: Nadya Goncharova, FIKA Café at the American Swedish Institute

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ABOUT MEET MINNEAPOLIS
Meet Minneapolis is a private, not-for-profit, member-based association. It actively promotes and sells the Minneapolis area as a destination for conventions and meetings, works to maximize the visitor experience and markets the city as a desirable tourist destination to positively impact the economic and social prosperity of the Minneapolis community. Meet Minneapolis is accredited by the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) of Destinations International.

MEDIA CONTACTS
Kevin Kurtt, PR Manager, (o) 612-767-8118, (c) 952-288-9319, kevink@minneapolis.org
Kathy McCarthy, Senior PR Director, (o) 612-767-8048, (c) 612-508-9720, kathym@minneapolis.org