Tourism Luncheon Calls for ‘Cathedral Thinkers’

The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority hosted its annual tourism luncheon on Wednesday, May 8, inside the Indiana Welcome Center. Hundreds of attendees learned of the necessary step in making progress in the hospitality and tourism industry.

According to Speros Batistatos, president and CEO of the South Shore CVA, the hospitality and tourism industry will continue to push forward with ‘cathedral thinkers,’ or those that think of the long-term effect of a project.

“We see cathedral thinking with people like Congressman Pete Visclosky and the Marquette Plan. He came up with a plan to reclaim the lakefront,” said Batistatos. “We’ve seen this transformation under the leadership of Whiting Mayor Joe Stahura who worked to reclaim the lakefront, and Crown Point Mayor Dave Uran who had a vision of making downtown Crown Point a destination.”

Batistatos urged the room full of industry professionals and elected officials to consider the long term goals and results of a project and how it may have a greater impact to be seen beyond their time.

Batistatos and the South Shore CVA also introduced a new campaign called “Faces of Tourism,” recognizing individuals who have had an outstanding impact on the hospitality and tourism industry. Those introduced during the tourism luncheon include W.F. Wellman, Bethany (Albanese) Shelhart, Frank Schilling, Laura Ostergren, Professor Michael Flannery and Marci Crozier.

W.F. Wellman is the Senior Vice President of Communications for Whiteco Industries, Inc. and has been serving the industry for more than 50 years. Laura Ostergren and Frank Schilling have both developed staple tourist destinations in the community. Bethany (Albanese) Shelhart has worked closely with the South Shore CVA for the past eight years to promote and share tourism opportunities through her family business. Professor Michael Flannery is the department head of the Hospitality and Tourism Management program at Purdue University Calumet. Marci Crozier has been a longtime local sports and fitness advocate.

Twenty-four more Faces of Tourism will be released by the end of July as the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority celebrates its 30th anniversary leading the hospitality and tourism industry.

Want to know more about the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority? Then visit their website!

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