Nominees sought for first GRIT tourism awards

FORT SMITH — The Fort Smith Convention and Visitors Bureau is doling out its inaugural GRIT awards for tourism on April 19, while at the same time pulling the cover off the Movie Lounge, Fort Smith’s latest and most innovative nightlife attraction.

But first things first: organizers are in desperate need of nominations for GRIT, (which stands for Giving Recognition in Tourism).

The best nominees will be those with a true life commitment to the hospitality and tourism industry, said Claude Legris, executive director of the Fort Smith CVB.

“There are people, businesses and organizations who’ve done things in support of the tourism industry in Fort Smith that didn’t have to do those things,” he said.

The Fort Smith CVB is collecting, in writing (loosely stated)  nominations for groups and/or individuals in the following categories: Business Partner of the Year, Attraction Partner of the Year; Lodging Partner of the Year, Restaurant Partner of the Year and the Polly Crews Hospitality Person of the Year.

The awards are kind of like the Henry Awards that are given out annually at the state Governor’s Conference on Tourism. And to that end, Sherry Scorby, (“the queen of GRIT,” as Legris calls her) is taking suggestions from all over the state. There have been other groups and attractions in other parts of Arkansas that have collaborated with those in Fort Smith for tourism-related projects, explained Scorby, convention/events sales director of the CVB.

“You can’t get too many nominations,” Scorby said.

She tried to make the nominating process as easy as possible. She’ll take anything in writing, as long as it includes the “who” and “why.” Nominations can be mailed, emailed, faxed or dropped by her office at 2 N. B St. no later than 5 p.m. March 23. Information regarding criteria can be found here.

The awards won’t be a popularity contest like the former Rose Awards for tourism, held years ago, said Legris. The GRIT winners will be decided by “a very secret committee,” he said. Finalists will be notified early next month and the winners will be announced at the awards ceremony, set to start at 6 p.m. at the Movie Lounge, 7601 Rogers Ave.

In addition to nominees and other dignitaries, the crowd on hand for the GRIT Awards and Movie Lounge opening will also include the last year’s worth of Hometown Hospitality Heroes — those who have been highlighted each quarter in the City of Fort Smith’s Fast Focus e-newsletter. Even those folks have been enlisted to help dig up nominees

“We’re looking for people with grit,” declared Scorby.

And they have just a little more than a week to find them.