Home Media �Friendliest Face of the Year� award given to KTSC employee

�Friendliest Face of the Year� award given to KTSC employee

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. � Today, during a luncheon sponsored by the Knoxville Tourism Alliance (KTA), the University of Tennessee (UT) Tourism Institute and the Knoxville Tourism & Sports Corporation (KTSC), one KTSC employee received a special �Friendliest Face of the Year� award, designated for one outstanding Knoxville professional who encompasses exceptional hospitality and friendliness in the tourism industry.
Deborah Redman, Senior Sales Manager for the KTSC, was the recipient of the �Friendliest Face� award, also known as a PAULY award (given in honor of Paul Sherbakoff). Redman has served more than 10 years in the hospitality industry.
�Deborah is our cheerleader for Knoxville tourism. She continues to work at a neck breaking speed with enthusiasm and determination, and her smile comes from the heart,� said Dale Thompson of the KTA Lodging Council.
Redman, who has been employed by the KTSC since April 2003, previously worked on the pre-opening of the Knoxville Convention Center for two years and also in Chattanooga�s hospitality industry for 12 years.
Other PAULY award winners at the Knoxville Tourism Awards & Scholarship Luncheon include Tennessee Smokies Baseball, Bill Perry of the Three Rivers Rambler, Marlon Mason of the Knoxville Convention Center, Leigh Ann Gibson of Zuma Fun Center, Barry Bussell of Calhoun�s Bearden Hill, John Price at the Holiday Inn Select Downtown, Burns Mailing and Printing, Tennessee Riverboat Company, Ken Stroecker of Green Hills Grille and Lisa Benker of Hampton Inn West.
The Tourism Impact Award (TIA), sponsored by KTSC, was given to Scott Schimmel of the Market Square District Association, and seven scholarships were awarded to students from Pellissippi State Technical Community and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Dr. Steve Morse, Director of the Tourism Institute at the University of Tennessee, was the guest speaker for the luncheon, and gave a presentation focused on hospitality and tourism efforts in Knoxville and Knox County as compared with other counties in the state.
The KTA is a non-profit membership organization of the tourism and hospitality industry. The purpose of the KTA is to enhance the economic, legislative, and social interests of its membership. Its mission is to promote and protect the tourism industry in Knoxville.