The Toast Of The North Shore's Tourism Industry

SALEM, MA — Some of the driving forces behind the North Shore's growing tourism industry were honored at the recent North of Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau annual meeting and Tourism Awards Ceremony at Salem's Hawthorne Hotel.

"Bringing in $30 billion of visitor spending to the Commonwealth in 2022, the tourism and hospitality industry is the third largest industry in Massachusetts," said Nancy Gardella, Executive Director. "Our organization and members have been working hard to draw people to our region."

Gardella said in 2022 visitor spending exceeded $1.2 billion, generating $119 million in tax revenue, with $1.8 billion in indirect spending.

The North of Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau presented awards to the following recipients:

• 2023 Anne Turcotte Leadership Award – Rhonda and Steve Woodman, Woodman’s of Essex
• 2023 Geoff Woodman Hospitality Award – Jill Gray, Hampton Inn by Hilton, Salem
• 2023 Story Teller Award – John Andrews, Creative Collective, Salem
• 2023 Small Business Award – Maritime Gloucester
• 2023 Frontline Hospitality Award – Caleb McMurphy, Hammond Castle, Gloucester
• 2023 New Member Award – North Shore Children's Museum, Peabody
• 2023 Award of Appreciation – Massachusetts State Representative Jerald Parisella

The Bureau also welcomed the incoming executive board and board of directors:

Executive Board

· John Orlando, Chair – The Harborview Inn in Gloucester

· Karen Nascembeni, Vice Chair – North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly

· James O’Brien, Treasurer – Topsfield Fair in Topsfield

· Bethany Groff Dorau, Secretary – Museum of Old Newbury

· Tara B. Bassett, At Large – Boston Marriott Peabody

· Doneeca Thurston, At Large – Lynn Museum/LynnArts

· Jennifer Close, Past Chair – Peabody Essex Museum in Salem

Board of Directors

· Joe Bevilacqua – Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce

· Lynne Blangiardi – Hampton Inn & Homewood Suites by Hilton Boston-Peabody

· Sarah Boucher – Briar Barn Inn, a Bramble Hospitality property

· Jo Broderick – Montserrat College of Art in Beverly

· Stacia Cooper – Destination Salem

· Tobin Dominick – Cape Ann’s Marina Resort | Mile Marker One Waterfront Restaurant

· Jeanne Hennessey – Beauport Hospitality Group in Gloucester

· Kate Martin – Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce & Industry

· Tess McColgan – Discover Gloucester

· Gia Page – Davio's Lynnfield

· Christopher Sicuranza

· Robert Simonelli – The Landing Restaurant in Marblehead

· Joshua Smith – Hampton Inn by Hilton, Salem Boston

· Nancy Gardella – North of Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau, Executive Director

New Directors

· John Moynihan – Firehouse Center for the Arts, Newburyport

· Valerie Rosenberg – Cider Hill Farm, Amesbury

· Danielle Turner, Turner Seafood, Salem

Departing Directors

· Mayor Kassandra Gove – City of Amesbury

· Ann Ormond – Town of Andover

· Nate Allard – Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce & Industry

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)