Destination marketing organization honored for excellent service, extraordinary partnership, and exceptional venue and destination
Grand Rapids, Mich. – Experience Grand Rapids recently won two prestigious meeting industry awards. The national awards honored the Grand Rapids/Kent County destination marketing organization’s excellent service and extraordinary partnership and showcased our market as a globally exceptional destination.
“In both these cases, we were selected by meeting professionals—the primary customers of our sales and services team,” said EXGR President and CEO, Doug Small. “That is particularly gratifying, and it underscores something I’ve long known: We have an exemplary team, matched only by the outstanding destination we represent.”
Northstar Stella Award
EXGR was named the Best Convention Bureau/Destination Marketing Organization in the Midwest by Northstar Meetings Group.
The premier online platform for business and sports event organizers, planners and incentive program professionals, Northstar Meetings Group recognized EXGR as a Gold Winner in its 2024 Stella Awards, which honors excellence across 16 meetings industry categories. EXGR was nominated for prioritizing the voice of the meeting planner across the organization.
“We are incredibly honored to receive this recognition,” said EXGR Vice President of Sales & Services, Mary Manier, CTP, CTIS. “On behalf of our entire team, I extend sincere thanks to the event organizers and meeting planners who selected us for this award. It is our distinct privilege to partner with them to ensure an exceptional experience for the individuals and groups they bring to West Michigan.”
Smart Meetings Platinum Choice Award
Smart Meetings, the leading meetings industry publisher and voice of inspiration for meeting professionals, named Experience Grand Rapids a 2024 Platinum Choice Award winner.
The Platinum Choice Awards showcase exceptional venues and destinations around the world, serving as a guide for meeting planners to “build their shortlist of extraordinary partners to turn to when only the best will be good enough.”
“This is the first time in the 22-year history of the awards that Experience Grand Rapids made the winner’s list,” said Manier. “This reflects the increasing prominence of Grand Rapids/Kent County as a meetings destination and the impeccable service our team delivers to meeting planners and attendees.”
Other 2024 Awards
It’s been a banner awards year for EXGR, as the organization also collected a Silver ADDY Award from The American Advertising Federation-West Michigan and a Silver PRooF Award from the West Michigan Public Relations Society of America (WMPRSA), while EXGR Senior Vice President, Janet Korn, received the 2024 Pure Michigan Legacy Award and was named Communicator of the Year by WMPRSA.
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About Experience Grand Rapids
Established in 1927, Experience Grand Rapids (EXGR) leads the marketing of Grand Rapids/Kent County as a premier convention & visitor destination providing a significant positive impact to the West Michigan economy. Previously named the Grand Rapids/Kent County Convention & Visitors Bureau, EXGR represents the second largest city in Michigan with over one million residents.
CONTACT: Amy LeFebre, Truscott Rossman | 616-450-4292, alefebre@truscottrossman.com