Minneapolis (May 22, 2024) – Today, as part of National Travel and Tourism Week, Meet Minneapolis announced the recipients of its annual tourism awards. Revealed in prior years at the Meet Minneapolis Annual Meeting, these awards honor individuals, meeting planners, businesses, organizations, and/or groups for their contributions to tourism and hospitality in Minneapolis.

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

Lifetime Achievement Award

Lisa Goodman, Minneapolis' longest-serving councilmember, dedicated 26 years to representing Ward 7. First elected in 1997 and reelected six times, she was steadfast in her work to ensure the success of downtown Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Convention Center. For 22 years, she served on the Meet Minneapolis board and was instrumental in highlighting the important role that tourism and hospitality play in showcasing Minneapolis as a premier destination for meetings, conventions and events. In addition, Goodman performed a key role in the development of the Meet Minneapolis Visitor Center, the redevelopment of Peavey Plaza and Nicollet Mall, as well as the creation of Hennepin Theatre Trust.

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. This year’s shared winners are a trio of food and drink destinations in the Prospect Park neighborhood which have greatly enhanced what Minneapolis has to offer to locals and visitors.

• The Market at Malcolm Yards is a vibrant food hall and gathering place, featuring nine culinary concepts, a bar serving craft cocktails and a self-pour tap-wall. The Market also features two separate event spaces for groups between 50-300 guests and regularly hosts community events, including The Great Northern festival’s Sauna Village for the past two years. Through the revitalization of the historic Harris Machinery building into a thoughtful, safe, inclusive and resilient neighborhood gathering space, The Market provides a beautiful neighborhood gathering space that is welcoming for visitors and locals alike.
• O’Shaughnessy Distilling Co. put Minneapolis on the map in the whiskey world with the creation of a state-of-the-art destination distillery producing award-winning Irish-American whiskeys by acclaimed Master Distiller Brian Nation. O'Shaughnessy’s gorgeous and spacious cocktail bar offers a variety of whiskey-based cocktails, a full restaurant, and plenty of outdoor patio areas, providing a welcoming space in the Prospect Park neighborhood for visitors and/or groups looking to host events. In addition, O’Shaughnessy Distilling is active in the Minneapolis community as a sponsor of numerous local events.
• One of the top destination breweries in the nation, Surly Brewing Co. was instrumental in allowing beer enthusiasts, locals and tourists to indulge in finely crafted homegrown brew across Minnesota. Until The Surly Bill was signed in 2011, Minnesota breweries were not allowed to serve pints of their beer on site. Today, Surly’s Beer Hall is a 50,000 square foot modern marvel in the Prospect Park neighborhood, offering dozens of beers on tap, vintage bottles from the Surly cellar and multiple food options. Surly has made a significant impact on the Minneapolis hospitality community with award-winning beers, a unique gathering space for the community and an attractive destination for visitors. In addition, the “Surly Gives a Damn” program has enhanced the community through passionate volunteerism with local organizations.

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

With Empowered Events, the Midwest Poultry Federation (MPF) has met annually in Minneapolis since 2018 and is committed to staying in Minneapolis through at least 2030. Each year, attendance at MPF’s premier event – PEAK – grows. In 2024, Minneapolis welcomed nearly 3,000 MPF attendees as they convened at the Minneapolis Convention Center in April. MPF’s commitment to meet in Minneapolis for years to come is a testament to the trusting relationship that has been built between MPF and all the various partners that benefit from their business, including but not limited to the convention center, hotels, restaurants and much more.

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. Following are the most recent recipients:

• 2023 Q1: Amy Kettner, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis
• 2023 Q2: Carol Hof, Hilton Minneapolis
• 2023 Q3: Patrick Fitzgerald, D’Amico Catering
• 2023 Q4: Madison Sauke, Hotel Indigo
• 2024 Q1: Ricky Thompson, Renee’s Limousines

"Our award recipients passionately demonstrate the exceptional dedication that exists within the Minneapolis tourism and hospitality industry,” Meet Minneapolis President & CEO Melvin Tennant said. “Our winners represent the best of Minneapolis, showcasing the innovation and excellence that make our city a premier destination for meetings, events and tourism. Their contributions have enhanced the visitor experience and strengthened our community. Congratulations to all the honorees."

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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 CONTACT
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