Annual Dinner 2017

For Tribune-Review by Shirley McMarlin

A recent USA Today poll listed four Western Pennsylvania spots in the commonwealth's top 10 tourist attractions. It's probably safe to assume that the work of the Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau had a hand in that.

The official marketing organization for Westmoreland, Fayette and Somerset counties, the visitors bureau held its annual dinner and awards presentation on Oct. 25 in the Barn at Ligonier Valley.

Executive director Ann Nemanic announced the 2017 Champions of Tourismhonorees:

• Tourism Pathfinder of the Year: Denise and Charles Gehringer, owners of Yoder's Guest House in Meyersdale, Somerset County.

• Tourism Employee of the Year: Matt Gault, assistant director of education at Fort Ligonier.

• Tourism Trailblazer of the Year: Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, which operates Fallingwater (No. 10 in the poll) and protects land in Ohiopyle State Park (No. 4), among its many conservation efforts. Accepting the award was conservancy Vice President and Fallingwater Director Lynda Waggoner.

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