Tourism Awareness Week was celebrated with a reception at the Tropical Inn Wednesday.
The event was designed to celebrate the work of some volunteers in the community and also highlight tourism initiatives from Battlefords Tourism and Convention Association.
Honoured was the Gold Eagle Casino, who were presented the Employer Tourism Training Award. This is awarded to the employer who has the highest demonstrated commitment to hospitality and tourism training and education.
Presented with a plaque from Battlefords Tourism chair Mal Anderson was Kevin Sapp, human resources manager at the casino.
Also honored was Donna Challis, the chair of Battlefords Tourism prior to the major changes and expansion in the organization's role this year.
She was also presented with a plaque.
Outlined were some of the plans Battlefords Tourism has to market the community to visitors.
One idea is the "ambassador" program - about four to six people from the community to be dressed in period costumes to be available in various hotels and venues to promote the tourist attractions and history of the area and encourage visitors to stay that extra day.
Anderson noted this program had been successful in other communities.
A photography contest, open to amateur photographers, will continue. Last year's winning photos were included in the Battlefords Tourism guide.
The four categories are Battlefords vacation, events, urban life and sports and recreation and the contest runs from now to Sept. 6. More information can be found at www.battlefordstourism.com.
Arriving in mailboxes this past week was the 2013 Battlefords Visitors Guide, which Battlefords Tourism development manager Ryan Bater mentioned at a recent city council meeting.
Bater urged people to take a look at it.
"Sometimes we take for granted what's in our back yard," said Bater, who added there were attractions in the community "that even I haven't visited until recently."
He added "we are our own best ambassadors" and urged people to familiarize themselves with what was here and share that.
