The North of Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau (NBCVB) held its 2022 Annual Meeting and Tourism Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, November 8 at the Hawthorne Hotel in Salem, MA. Members, local chambers of commerce, destination marketing organizations, and tourism supporters in Essex County came together to honor colleagues who are making a difference as champions in the industry.
“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. In Essex County, direct visitor spending – lodging and dining – exceeded $1.2 billion, generating more than $119 Million in tax revenue, $38 million of which was returned to Essex County cities and towns in local options. An estimated $1.8 billion was indirect spending – gas, bike rentals, shopping, tours & attractions – bringing our total to well over $3 billion.”
The Annual Dinner, sponsored by the Hawthorne Hotel, Marble Ridge Winery, Sperling Interactive, and the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, also recognized the new and departing NBCVB board members and highlighted accomplishments and future initiatives.
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
Incoming 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
About the North of Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau
The North of Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau is a private, non-profit membership-based organization that promotes the 34 cities and towns of Essex County as a travel destination for leisure, groups, meetings, and special events domestically and internationally. Our mission is to increase the number of visitors and length of stay in our region; expand product to meet traditional & new market segments; serve as a central source of information for visitors; and foster economic development through public and private partnerships. For more information about our members and our services, please visit www.northofboston.org.
