“An Innovator in His Field”: TIAC Employee of the Year Award Winner Inspires Guests and Colleagues

Canadian Tourism Awards Ian Cheverie and Presenters
(L to R) MP Wayne Easter, MP Gudie Hutchings, MP Alaina Lockhart, Ian Cheverie, Charlotte Bell (TIAC), Dave McKenna (TIAC Board), Philip Mondor (Tourism HR Canada) [Photo credit: Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC)]
Tourism HR Canada is delighted to honour Ian Cheverie, Guest Experience Manager & Concierge at The Great George Hotel in Charlottetown, PEI.

Ian accepted the Tourism Employee of the Year Award at the Tourism Industry Association of Canada’s Tourism Congress. The award recognizes a frontline professional whose leadership, dedication, and high quality of service exemplify excellence in the tourism industry.

Ian joined the team at The Great George eight years ago, working in an entry-level guest service position. After earning promotions to front desk and then sales assistant, Ian’s initiative and passion for crafting the perfect guest experience led to the creation of his own guest services department, which has blossomed into a team of seven.

“I feel truly blessed to be part of an industry that celebrates the best qualities of our regions, as well as our industry leaders that live and breathe tourism,” says Ian. “The overwhelming support and encouragement from my entire province since my return from The Canadian Tourism Awards with this recognition from Tourism HR Canada is a statement to our strong sense of community—we are all celebrating here in Prince Edward Island! Receiving this prestigious award was an evening I will never forget, and I now look forward to taking our guest experience to the next level when it comes to sharing my pride and passion for what I do, where I work, and where I live.”

Ian’s commitment to hospitality is evident in all he does—he continually strives to create an unmatched guest experience, even using his free time to gain a deeper knowledge of tourism across the province. Guests frequently request his personally vetted island tour itineraries and join his popular Historical Walking Tour. He has implemented numerous programs to make each guest’s stay memorable and unique and spends time getting to know each guest to ensure their next stay is further tailored to their likes and interests. Guests regularly send notes of thanks and mention Ian in online reviews.

The Great George team is inspired daily by his enthusiasm. Ian developed a half-day Guest Experience training program for new employees, sharing aspects of the hotel and the broader industry in PEI. A quarterly employee newsletter, Checking In with Ian, keeps the team apprised of new initiatives, upcoming guests, and key happenings at the hotel and within the region. His recent The Great George Values Card is part of each hotel team member’s uniform—it guides them in their daily interactions, putting the hotel’s values into action statements.

Ian is the only Les Clefs d’Or concierge in PEI, a process that takes two years of ongoing training and testing to complete, and is nationally certified through Emerit as a Guest Services Attendant. He has won awards from the Murphy Hospitality Group and the Tourism Industry Association of PEI.

“Ian goes above and beyond every day to deliver memorable experiences for our guests and he challenges and inspires every one of our team members to do the same,” says Megan Hunt, The Great George Hotel general manager. “With his passion for our hotel, the tourism industry as a whole, and our beautiful province of PEI, Ian connects with our guests in a way that truly exemplifies the genuine Island hospitality that has become the trademark of our guest experience. You can literally feel the difference when Ian is on property—his energy and enthusiasm is unmatched. A perfect example of what happens when you invest in young people in this industry, we are truly lucky to work alongside such an outstanding professional.”

Ian’s enthusiasm for working in tourism in catching—frontline staff at The Great George aspire to his position, and he discusses industry career options with tourism and hospitality students at Holland College in PEI and Oulton College in New Brunswick.

Professionals with Ian’s desire to consistently go above and beyond are what make Canada a global tourism destination. His passion for the ultimate guest experience is a shining example of the more than 1.8 million individuals working in tourism and hospitality, daily creating incredible memories for visitors from around the world. Congratulations, Ian!

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