“Singing Concierge” is Seattle’s Tourism Ambassador of the Year

King County Executive Dow Constantine and Visit Seattle President & CEO Tom Norwalk introduce Lucy Wilma. Photo by Alan Alabastro.

“My Kind of Town…Seattle is!”

Lucy Wilma sang her acceptance speech upon being named Seattle’s 2013 Tourism Ambassador of the Year at the Visit Seattle annual meeting on February 28.

She surprised and charmed a business audience of some 600, including me. I’d seen Lucy at work as a concierge at the Renaissance Seattle Hotel and I knew her to be the model of professionalism and customer service. But, watching her “own” that stage was a revelation.

Lucy once worked as a singing telegram messenger and is an avid (and seemingly irrepressible) show tune singer. While she doesn’t routinely break into song at the concierge desk, her colleagues will whisper, “try to get her to sing – she’s amazing.”

Though singled out for this award, Lucy actually joins a class of five professionals selected by a panel of industry representatives to serve as “Tourism Ambassadors” for the city this year.

Each is a star in their own right, and we here at Visit Seattle are enormously proud to have them represent our industry.

Joe Barnhart, Supervisor at Tillicum Village and Argosy Cruises

Sara Stanford, Group Sales Coordinator at the Pacific Science Center

James Grindle, Park Concierge for Seattle Parks and Recreation

Danny Shafer, Door Attendant at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel

Lucy Wilma, Concierge, Renaissance Seattle Hotel

Meet Lucy, Joe, Sara, James and Danny in this brief video.

Our Tourism Ambassadors are real-life professionals who volunteer to be a part of our non-profit Why Tourism Matters public education campaign. We started it five years ago to boost awareness of an industry that doesn’t always get the respect it deserves – especially here in Washington State.  It has worked well. In fact, it’s spread from Seattle to communities across our state and across the U.S. Obviously, there’s a common need for tourism advocacy. We hope the campaign inspires you.