Liberty County Convention and Visitors Bureau coordinator of first impressions Mary Prince has earned the Stellar Service Award, presented by the Georgia Visitor Information Center in St. Marys.
An LCCVB news release said Prince was nominated for the Linda Horn Hospitality Award by the bureau staff, with supporting letters from Flemington Mayor Sandra Martin and LaQuinta Inn and Suites owner Hasit Patel. Prince was selected as a finalist and received the Stellar Service Award on May 5 at the St. Marys center as part of the Georgia on my Mind Day.
Prince has worked at the LCCVB since July 2013. Her responsibilities have expanded as she transitioned from part-time to full-time.
"We recently changed Mary’s title from visitor information specialist to coordinator of first impressions after running across a similar title online," LCCVB CEO Leah Poole said. "Mary is our first impression to Liberty County for everyone who walks in our door or calls our office. Her ability to set people at ease, calm the angry, engage the visitor and rally the troops is impressive and ‘visitor information specialist’ was an unjust title for what she really does. Regardless of how her day may be going, Mary is always conscious of the visitor experience."
Leslie Amerine, manager of the information center, said her staff implement the award in 2015 to celebrate National Travel and Tourism Week. Linda Horn, then manager of the Kingsland Welcome Center received the first award. She died shortly after receiving the award, which was then named in her memory.
"This year, Mary Prince, coordinator of first impressions with the Liberty County Convention and Visitors Bureau was nominated for the Linda Horn Hospitality Award. With the full support of her colleagues, area business owners, city of Flemington Mayor Sandra Martin, and Mary’s peers, she was voted into the final round of nominations from 11 Coastal counties," Amerine said. "Her sweet disposition, dedication, and care for Liberty County’s future, and her concern for the best experience possible for all who visit Georgia determined her place as a finalist."
"This award was a pleasant surprise," Prince said. "I really love my job and I work with some special women and we make a good team."
To learn more about the LCCVB, visit www.libertycounty.org call 912-368-3580.