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S.D. Businesses Recognized for Outstanding Customer Service

11/20/2008
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PIERRE, S.D. – The Office of Tourism has recognized 110 South Dakota businesses and organizations for their superior customer service efforts in 2008. Each received the Great Service Star designation which indicates a business is committed to outstanding service and has successfully completed the Office of Tourism’s three-step hospitality training program.
 
“The businesses recognized by this designation are committed to the success of South Dakota’s visitor industry, and understand the importance of providing exceptional hospitality,” said Richard Benda, secretary of the South Dakota Department of Tourism and State Development. “The Star is an instant identifier for visitors who can be assured that businesses displaying the Star excel in customer service.” 
 
The Great Service Star program is a way for the Office of Tourism to identify and recognize businesses that complete a set of service-related criteria. Businesses meeting the criteria are awarded a symbol to use in their marketing and a plaque to post at their business to demonstrate to visitors their commitment to "Great Service."
 
Receipt of the Great Service Star designation automatically qualifies a business for consideration for the George S. Mickelson Great Service Award, which is presented annually at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism in January to the year’s top service provider.
 
The following South Dakota businesses have received the Great Service Star designation for 2008:
 

Aberdeen
Best Western Ramkota Hotel
Mina LakeRecreation Area, SD Game, Fish & Parks
RichmondLakeRecreation Area, SD Game, Fish & Parks
WyliePark
 
Britton
Northern Lights Inn
 
Brookings
South DakotaArt Museum
 
Canton
Newton Hills State Park, SD Game, Fish & Parks
 
Carpenter
Possibility Farm Bed & Breakfast
 
 
 
Chamberlain
AktaLakotaMuseum at St. Joseph’s IndianSchool
CedarShore Resort
 
Custer
Best Western Buffalo Ridge Inn
Custer Area Chamber of Commerce
Custer State Park, SD Game, Fish & Parks
FortWelikit Car & Camper Rentals
FortWelikit Family Campground
 
Deadwood
Black Hills Central Reservations
Cadillac Jack’s Gaming Resort at AmericInnHotel & Suites
Comfort Inn at Gulches of Fun
Deadwood Gulch Resort
First Gold Hotel & Gaming
Four Aces Hotel Corp.
Gold Dust Gaming, Inc.
Historic Bullock Properties
Strawberry Bed & Breakfast
Super 8 Deadwood
Thunder Cove Inn
 
Ft.Pierre
Oahe Downstream Recreation Area, SD Game, Fish & Parks
 
HillCity
Best Western Golden Spike Inn & Suites
Black Hills Central Railroad-1880 Train
Mt. Rushmore KOA & Palmer Gulch Lodge
Pine Rest Cabins
Prairie Berry Winery
 
Hot Springs
Angostura Recreation Area, SD Game, Fish & Parks
Evan’s Plunge
Mammoth Site of Hot Springs
 
Information Centers
ChamberlainInformationCenter
New EffingtonInformationCenter
SalemInformationCenter
SpearfishInformationCenter
TilfordInformationCenter
ValleySpringsInformationCenter
VermillionInformationCenter
VivianInformationCenter
WastaInformationCenter
WilmotInformationCenter
 
Keystone
Big Thunder Gold Mine
Keystone Chamber of Commerce
XanterraParks & Resorts at Mt.Rushmore
 
LakeAndes
North Point Recreation Area, SD Game, Fish & Parks
 
LakeCity
FortSisseton Historic State Park, SD Game, Fish & Parks
Roy Lake State Park, SD Game, Fish & Parks
 
Lead
Black Hills Trails Office, SD Game, Fish & Parks
 
Mitchell
Hampton Inn of Mitchell
World’s Only Corn Palace
 
Mobridge
Indian Creek Recreation Area, SD Game, Fish & Parks
 
Murdo
PioneerAutoShow & AntiqueTown
 
Pierre
BestWesternRamkotaHotel & ConferenceCenter
FarmIsland Recreation Area, SD Game, Fish & Parks
Great Lakes of SD Tourism Association
Governor’s Inn
LaMinestra
SD Game, Fish & Parks Division of Parks & Recreation
West Bend Recreation Area, SD Game, Fish & Parks
 
Platte
Snake Creek Recreation Area, SD Game, Fish & Parks
Platte Creek Recreation Area, SD Game, Fish & Parks
Buryanek Recreation Area, SD Game, Fish & Parks
 
Rapid City
BestWesternRamkotaHotel & ConferenceCenter
Black Hills Caverns
Black HillsVisitorInformationCenter
Comfort Inn I-90
Country Inn & Suites by Carlson
Days Inn I-90
EconoLodge
LakePark Campground & Cottages
Quality Inn of Rapid City
Firehouse Brewing Company
Super 8-Mt. Rushmore Road
Rapid City Convention & Visitors Bureau
ReptileGardens
Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn
Rushmore Shadows Resort
 
Rockerville
The Gas Light
 
Sioux Falls
BestWesternRamkotaHotel & ConferenceCenter
ClubHouse Hotel & Suites
Sheraton Sioux Falls Hotel
Spirit of the West Festival
The Empire Mall
The Outdoor Campus
 
Spearfish
Best Western Black Hills Lodge
Fairfield Inn by Marriott
Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center
Rodeway Inn & Suites
 
Sturgis
Black Hills Executive Lodging
Holiday Inn Express & Suites
 
Wall
Elkton House Restaurant
Wall Auto Livery
Wall Drug Store
Wall Badlands Area Chamber of Commerce
 
Watertown
Best Western Ramkota Hotel
Comfort Inn
Country Inn & Suites
Watertown Convention & Visitors Bureau
RedlinArtCenter
Hartford Beach State Park, SD Game, Fish & Parks
SandyShore Recreation Area, SD Game, Fish & Parks
LakeCochrane Recreation Area, SD Game, Fish & Parks
PelicanLake Recreation Area, SD Game, Fish & Parks
PickerelLake Recreation Area, SD Game, Fish & Parks
 
Yankton
Lewis & Clark Recreation Area, SD Game, Fish & Parks
Lewis & Clark Theater Company
 

 
The Great Service Star program is part of Goal 1 of the 2010 Initiative to double visitor spending in South Dakota.
 
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