Gary Walton Honored With The President's Tourism Excellence Award

ROANOKE, VA. (May 11, 2009) - Gary Walton, general manager of The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center and The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center, received the Presidents' Tourism Excellence Award from the Roanoke Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The Roanoke Valley CVB annually recognizes individuals for their contributions to tourism on the local and statewide levels with the lifetime achievement award.

"This award is presented by the Bureau's past presidents as recognition of an individual who exemplifies leadership, service and commitment to the tourism industry in the Roanoke Valley and even the Commonwealth of Virginia," said Catherine Fox, tourism director of the Roanoke Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau. "It is recognition of an individual's lifetime achievements in developing and promoting our great industry."

Walton, a 32-year veteran of the hospitality industry, has served in numerous positions and locations across the country, including general manager responsibilities in Denver, Phoenix, Atlanta, Overland Park, Kan., and Chapel Hill, N.C. He has also had regional responsibilities since moving to Roanoke in 1994. Walton is a native of Niles, Ohio, and a graduate of The Ohio State University.

His interest and experience in university-owned hotels and conference centers has been especially rewarding as he has successfully balanced the needs and mission of the university while managing profitable hotel operations. Including the Roanoke and Blacksburg properties, which are owned by Virginia Tech, Walton has had leadership roles with hotels owned by University of North Carolina, Duke University and the University of Florida.

Walton, a 22-year employee of Hilton Hotels Corporation, was recognized in 2001 as the General Manager of the Year by the Virginia Hospitality and Tourism Association and received the General Manager of the Year in 1993 for Doubletree Hotels. The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center, under his leadership, was recognized with the company's highest honors in 2003 - the Connie Award, and CARE Hotel of the Year.