Press Release

The Cartersville-Bartow County Convention & Visitors Bureau presented its annual Hospitality Heroes Awards and the 2017 People’s Choice Awards in a ceremony at the 42nd Annual Arts Festival at Rose Lawn on Saturday. Awards were presented by Master of Ceremony and CVB Board Member Adena Harper, CVB Board Member Jane Drew, and CVB Business Development Manager Michele Sims.

 

The Kordecki Award for Contribution to the Arts was presented to Julie Reeves, Owner and Artistic Director of Steps of Faith Dance Studio recognizing her two decades of performances, theatrical support, and masterful choreography.

 

The Shining Star Award honored the 4AAAA Two-Time State Football Champions, the Cartersville High School Purple Hurricanes for attracting a national audience to Cartersville as one of 14 teams nationwide chosen to play in the GEICO ESPN High School Football Kick Off.

 

Local businessman Jimmy Dellinger received the Entwisle Award for Lifetime Service for his “exemplary footprint on our community as a visionary in the mining industry.”

 

Linda Benton was the recipient of the Grant Award for Community Service honoring her decades of service to the Cartersville City School Board, as a charter member of the Cartersville-Bartow County Community Foundation, as a board member of the Margaret and Luke Pettit Environmental Preserve, and as Director of Church Growth at Sam Jones United Methodist Church.

 

The Bentley Award for Economic Development in Tourism was presented to Julian Saul for his investment and new development at Barnsley Resort, where the Inn at Barnsley Resort and new events venue Georgian Hall will open in 2018, adding 55 guest suites and 16,000 square feet of indoor meeting and event space adjacent to the historic ruins and gardens.

 

The Sans Souci Women’s Club established in 1914 was honored with the Distinguished Volunteer of the Year Award for its century of service to the Adairsville community.  The club established Adairsville on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987, and more recently has served as greeters at the Adairsville Welcome Center. The group also has worked with the City of Adairsville and Kennesaw State University to create new interpretive displays for the Adairsville Depot Museum. Look for the museum’s grand re-opening September 24.

 

Completing the awards ceremony was the presentation of the coveted People’s Choice Awards where almost 5,000 people voted for their favorite places to eat and shop, and their favorite local attraction throughout the summer.

  • 2017 Best Attraction is Booth Western Art Museum. Tellus Science Museum was runner-up followed by a tie at second for last year’s Best Attraction winner Bartow History Museum and LakePoint Sports.
  • 2017 Best Restaurant was award to Appalachian Grill, “a favorite with TripAdvisor and Yelp reviewers.” Restaurant newcomer Table 20 was runner-up, followed by Cartersville oldest diner 4 Way Lunch.
  • 2017 Best Shop – It’s About Time Boutique – winning for the fourth consecutive year. Runner up was previous winner Periwinkle, and Love June.

 

The Hospitality Heroes Awards and People’s Choice Awards were first presented in 2005, the CVB created the awards as a way to show appreciation for the people, businesses, and organizations that have contributed to the local tourism industry’s success.