The Saint Louis Attractions Association (SLAA) has announced the winners of the organization’s 2022 Spirit of St. Louis Awards as well as the recipient of the Carole Moody Scholarship.
The St. Louis Sports Commission received the Spirit of St. Louis Program Award for their work in producing the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team Trials. Michelle McGruder, Guest Services Manager for the Saint Louis Science Center, received the Spirit of St. Louis Individual Award. Brian Hall, Chief Marketing Office for Explore St. Louis, received the Spirit of St. Louis Hall of Fame Award. Maryville University student Taylor Lohman received the Carole Moody Scholarship.
Spirit of St. Louis Awards
Hall of Fame Award: Brian Hall, Chief Marketing Officer, Explore St. Louis
Brian Hall has been part of the Explore St. Louis team for 15 years and has over 30 years of experience in the tourism industry. Brian works closely with journalists, producers and influencers across the globe to tell the story of St. Louis. He has led countless efforts to help build the brand of St. Louis as an exciting, innovative, family-friendly and accessible destination.
Brian has produced many award-winning campaigns, with the most recent campaign, “In the Know,” changing the way visitors see St. Louis. In the Know features celebrity St. Louisans serving as experts in the areas of family, fun, food, culture and shopping. The campaign has won several awards, including HSMAI Adrian Best of Show and Platinum Award, two Mid-America Emmys, and the Missouri Division of Tourism Marketing Campaign of the Year.
The Hall of Fame Award is the Saint Louis Attractions Association’s highest honor, reserved for individuals who have made and sustained noteworthy contributions that have broadly impacted the tourism and hospitality industry. Nominees must have served in the industry for ten or more years.
Program Award: U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team Trials, St. Louis Sports Commission
The St. Louis Sports Commission was awarded the bid to host the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team Trials in April of 2019. The trials were supposed to take place in 2020, but due to the COVID=19, they were pushed back to June 2021.
The Sports Commission worked with many partners to help enhance and produce the event, including the City of St. Louis; Explore St. Louis; Greater STL, Inc.; Enterprise Center, the St. Louis Blues, 15 local gymnastics clubs, USA Gymnastics and many others. The results included an Olympic Trials single-session attendance record of 20,815 fans for the final night of the women’s trials, and an overall attendance of 64,677 over four sessions. Tickets were purchased from all 50 states plus Canada, Puerto Rico, Great Britain, Mexico, Costa Rica and China. Together, the trials, USA Gymnastics Championships and National Congress had a $28 million impact on the St. Louis region.
The Spirit of St. Louis Program Award is given to a program, activity or event that has contributed to the St. Louis region by raising public awareness, increasing visitorship or in general having a positive impact on the industry.
Individual Award: Michelle McGruder, Guest Services Manager, Saint Louis Science Center
Michelle McGruder started at the Saint Louis Science Center in 2004 as a part-time greeter and is now the Guest Services Manager for the popular attraction. She is passionate about ensuring Science Center guests have the best experience. Every day, she works closely with her team and engages with determine how they can continue to best serve their visitors. Michelle is considered the backbone of the Science Center by many of her co-workers.
The Spirit of St. Louis Individual Award is given annually to honor an individual who has gone the extra mile and put forth exemplary effort in helping to further the goals, objectives and spirit of the tourism and hospitality industry.
Carole Moody Scholarship
2022 Recipient: Taylor Lohman, Maryville University
A 2018 graduate of Nokomis High School and currently a Sports Business Management major at Maryville University, Taylor Lohman’s post-college career goals are to coordinate sporting events at the college level and become a manager or director in the events department for an athletic organization. She is currently the point-of-contact for all local and regional promotional events at the St. Louis Sports Commission and runs the annual 3v3 basketball tournament at Nokomis Memorial Park.
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