Bloomington Convention & Visitors Bureau Honors Its Own

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. October 14, 2008

BLOOMINGTON, mn, fEBRUARY 24, 2006. After serving as president and CEO of Bloomington, Minnesota's Convention & Visitors Bureau (BCVB) for the last 21 years, Bonnie L. Carlson will be honored with the prestigious 2006 Spirit of Hospitality Award during the 10th annual Diamond Service Award (DSA) event, to be held on Thursday, March 2, 2006, 5:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Bloomington Hotel. Carlson's award will be part of the event's DSA ceremony where one Bloomington hotel employee will be honored in 17 different categories.

The evening's guest of honor and presenter of the Spirit of Hospitality Award will be Roger Dow, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA). TIA is the national, umbrella organization that represents and speaks for all segments of the $600 billion U.S. travel and tourism industry in promoting and facilitating increased travel to and within the United States. Prior to TIA, Dow rose through the ranks at Marriott International in a career that spanned 34 years. "To honor Bonnie Carlson with the Spirit of Hospitality Award is indeed a true pleasure, said Dow. "Bonnie's insight, drive and motivating force behind Bloomington's tourism initiatives are something so rare and unique in today's ever-changing and challenging travel industry. And to have the stamina to do so with such grace and strength for 20 years is just overly impressive," said Roger Dow, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA).

The Spirit of Hospitality award is the pinnacle honor of the evening's awards and provides special recognition to an outstanding individual who has made a significant, long-term contribution to the hospitality and travel industry. Carlson has been one of the leading pioneers in the city's travel and tourism industry; with a constant drive to enhance the overall Bloomington experience and contribute to the economic well-being of the city through leadership and innovation in the hospitality industry. Hospitality is the number one industry in Bloomington employing over 20,000 people in our 33 hotels/motels, restaurants, attractions and Mall of America.

Known as the local rendition of the "academy awards" of the hospitality industry, the 2006 Diamond Service award winners will be chosen from 230 nominees in 17 different categories. This year's expected sold-out audience will include award finalists and guests, city officials, members of the metro- area business community, hotel general managers, sales staff, human resource managers, restaurant and retail managers, and employees at hospitality and retail businesses.

Carlson's career in the tourism industry spans more than 29 years. She is a board of directors' member for the Travel Industry Association of America. She is a past chair of the board of directors for Destination Marketing Association International and currently serves on its Foundation Board. In addition, Carlson is a board member of the Meeting Planners International Foundation board, and was appointed by Minnesota's Governor to serve on the Explore Minnesota Tourism Council.

Carlson has earned numerous industry awards including Woman of the Year by the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, Executives Career Achievement Award from Sales and Marketing Executive, and the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Upper Midwest Convention & Visitor Bureaus. For more information on Bonnie L. Carlson and the 2006 Diamond Service Awards, please visit http://www.bloomingtonmn.org/.