The Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau (CTCSB) honored seven state residents for their work in helping to bring and produce meetings and events to Connecticut that have a profound impact on the State's economy. The "CTCSB Hospitality Industry Night and Bring It Home Awards sponsored by Eversource" was held at the Best Western Plus North Haven Hotel on October 23rd.

 The CTCSB's 2018 Bring It Home Awards were presented to:

•  John Heine of Northford, Conn., for bringing the Association of College &University Printers' (ACUP) Annual Conference to Omni Hotel & Yale University in New Haven in April 2019;

•  Susan Keane of East Hartford and Beverley Henry of East Hartford, for coordinating the Council of State Governments' Eastern Regional Conference Annual Meeting at Mohegan Sun in August 2017;

•  Rich and Liz Parenzan of Trumbull, for coordinating the USA BMX East Coast Nationals to the T.R.A.C.K. BMX in Trumbull in June 2018; and

•  David Rocha of Simsbury, for bringing the USSSA (U.S. Specialty Sports Association) 2018 Northeast National Championship to East Hartford and Southington in July 2018.

The CTCSB's 2018 Thomas J. Shortell Award, recognizing Connecticut residents who have had a long-term successful sports career, was presented to Suzy Whaley of Cromwell, a PGA Master Professional and the Vice President of the PGA. Ms. Whaley also is being honored for bringing the PGA of America Annual Meeting to the Connecticut Convention Center in October 2020.

"Our organization's 4th annual Hospitality Industry Night celebrated the positive impact of tourism and conventions, conferences, meetings and sports events on Connecticut - from job creation to local, regional and State revenue," explains H. Scott Phelps, President of the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau, the State's official meetings and sports event sales and marketing organization. "We presented our 2018 awards to a group of dynamic Connecticut residents who have stepped up to help showcase our state, bringing visitors here and growing the economy."

The event featured refreshments and networking, a TAPSNAP 1188TM social media photo booth, and raffle and auction prizes that represent the state's hospitality industry. Roger Wierbicki, Secretary of the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau was the Event Chair, and Fox 61 meteorologist Matt Scott was the Emcee.

Major sponsors included Eversource, Bank of America, the Best Western Plus North Haven Hotel, and TAPSNAP 1188TTM.  

Working in partnership with the state's businesses, institutions, nonprofit organizations, and their surrounding communities, the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau (CTCSB) markets all of the state - convention and meeting venues, hotels and attractions, and sporting venues - as a premier destination for international, national, regional and statewide conferences, conventions and major sports events. The Connecticut Sports Advisory Board, a division of the CTCSB, focuses its efforts on attracting and serving international, national and regional sporting events. Events booked through the CTCSB in the last fiscal year alone are projected to result in: $54,181,589 in spending by convention, meeting and sports events attendees during their visits to the state, generating over $3,653,731 in Connecticut taxes. In addition, more than 17,246 Connecticut jobs in the hospitality industry will be supported by these events as a result of these bookings.* For information about the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau, visit www.ctmeetings.org or call 860-728-6789. (*Destinations International's economic calculator FY 2017-18).