In The News
ARLINGTON, TEXAS (May 10, 2019) —The Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) awarded the first recipient of the inaugural Arlington Tourism WOW Award on Friday, May 10 at Texas Live! to Carrie Bogard, a 19-year Parking Attendant for Stadium Parking. The award was presented by the City of Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams, Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau President & CEO Ron Price, along with mascots, Rowdy of the Dallas Cowboys and Rangers Captain of the Texas Rangers. The recipient was showered with balloons, a gift card and a specially designed WOW Award. Additionally, the audience was treated to a preview of the Arlington CVB’s new campaign “Arli & The World of Wonderful.”
The WOW Award recognizes a front-line professional who goes to great lengths to be kind and create a memorable experience for guests at an Arlington hospitality related organization, including hotels, restaurants, attractions, and retail and entertainment venues.
With more than 14.5 million visitors annually, and more than 10,000 tourism and hospitality related jobs supported; tourism is in the DNA of Arlington. As the only organization 100% dedicated to marketing Arlington as a premier visitor destination, the ACVB recognizes the importance of the people who interact with our visitors every day. The Arlington Tourism Hospitality WOW Award is one way the Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau can shine a light on the hardworking, dedicated people who make Arlington a World of Wonderful!
More about the Arlington WOW Award Recipient:
“Carrie is the "go to" person for information at both stadiums. She procures rides for those needing assistance to the stadium and knows the location of every Rangers lot to assist our visitors looking for their correct parking lot. Every Thanksgiving, Carrie dresses up as a turkey to greet our guests and she was recently dressed as the Easter Bunny on Easter Sunday, handing out candy eggs to the kids attending the game. Carrie also works the Methodist Church shuttle stop after the Cowboys games, entertaining the line of people and coordinating activity between various buses. Carrie is so much more than a parking attendant, she has become friends with all of her regular customers. She will go to great lengths to make sure their game day experience is fantastic, starting with parking. I cannot imagine anyone doing more to make our guests feel welcomed.” (Excerpt from her nomination from her Supervisor Sharon Smith.)
More about the Arlington WOW Award:
Who Is Eligible?
Non-managerial employees in the hotel, restaurant, retail, tourism or hospitality-related fields, including the public sector. Employees should have direct contact with, or provide support to, visitors and customers and distinguish themselves by promoting Arlington through exemplary service, kindness and customer satisfaction. Nominations for the Arlington WOW Award were submitted by April 30, 2019 at noon.
Judging & Criteria
Nominees were judged by three members of the Travel & Sports Legacy Foundation Board. The Travel & Sports Legacy Foundation is creating educational opportunities and career pathways to persons interested in travel, tourism and sports management careers. The panel of judges looked at how the nominees have gone above and beyond to provide memorable and kind experiences for their guests.
# arlington.org #
