Owen Sound - Patti Kendall of the Blue Mountain Village Association is the winner of this year's Charlie Kelly Award for her contribution to tourism in Grey and Bruce counties.

The award was presented today at the annual Grey-Bruce Regional Tourism Conference, held at the UNIFOR Centre in Port Elgin. It is sponsored by Bayshore Broadcasting and honors the memory of Charlie Kelly, an Owen Sound alderman who championed winter tourism in Owen Sound.

Kendall is best known for spearheading the award-winning Apple Pie Trail, which brings together 35 local businesses, including restaurants, art galleries, wineries, spas, tourism operators and of course, apple growers from Collingwood to Owen Sound. The trail won Best Culinary Tourism Experience in 2011 and more recently, the Premier's Award for innovation in agriculture marketing. It is a demonstration of true collaboration in tourism, setting an example for the region, and indeed, the province.

Kendall oversees several dozen festivals and events at Blue Mountain each year, including the award-winning Salsa festival and Canada's only Guitar Trail. She is also an ambassador for the region, guiding scores of international media and travel trade FAM (familiarization) tours through the Blue Mountains.

"Kendall is a role model to others on how to create and execute collaborative relationships," said Julie Card, one of her nominators. "She has a keen understanding of how important the consumer and customer experience is and how that experience resonates and amplifies with each happy customer."
A panel of judges, which included two former Charlie Kelly winners, selected Kendall from among nine nominees, considered for their personal dedication to tourism throughout the region, bringing forth new ideas, and volunteering their time for the cause.

Runners up included Richard Thomas, who led the charge to save and reopen the Owen Sound Marine & Rail Museum, and Mary Dale Ashcroft, head of the Bruce Peninsula Tourist Association.

Source - Owen Sound Tourism