Sam’s Town Shreveport Earns Two Prestigious Awards

Sam's Town Shreveport Earns Two Prestigious Awards

Sam's Town Hotel and Casino, Shreveport has double the bragging rights.

The Boyd Gaming property, located in downtown Shreveport, La., was recently honored with awards from both the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau and the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce.

Most Outstanding Sales Department

Sam's Town Shreveport won the 2021 Convention and Tourism Sales Department Award from the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau during the organization's Excellence in Hospitality Awards event on May 6.

The property was picked for its 'willingness to say yes when the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau reaches out for assistance,' particularly in the face of changes brought about by COVID-19; and because 'Sam's Town always steps up when we are working on overflow and citywide events,' said the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau.

Sam's Town Convention Services Manager Miranda Small called it an honor to be singled out for this highly competitive award, a first for Sam's Town Shreveport.

She credited the win to 'old-fashioned customer service'-something that comes naturally to her small team of three (Small, Derrick Parker and Jacqueline Robeaux)-as well as the collaborative nature of the growing and strengthening tourism market in greater Shreveport.

'We will do anything to assist to bring tourism dollars to our city,' said Small. 'We know that tourism dollars drive our initiatives and sales, so whenever we can help, it benefits us all. We pride ourselves on always being here to say, 'Yes!''

Minority Business Opportunity Award

Sam's Town Shreveport was also honored with the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce's Minority Business Opportunity Award, which recognizes businesses making a difference in the community for minorities, as well as gender and ethnicity.

Sam's Town Shreveport Vice President and General Manager Michael Pastore accepted the award on behalf of the property. He called the award a great tribute to the dedication and leadership of Kim Etland and Ron Bailey, who both served as general managers at Sam's Town prior to his arrival earlier this year. (Etland is now General Manager of Boyd Gaming's Treasure Chest Casino in Kenner, La., while Bailey was recently named GM of Valley Forge, a Boyd Gaming property in King of Prussia, Pa.)

'Promoting diversity and inclusion has always been an important part of Sam's Town,' said Pastore. 'Whether it be looking for new team members or our purchasing programs, we actively look for opportunities to engage with minority individuals or businesses.'

In addition to contributing tens of thousands of dollars each year to non-profit organizations such as the Shreveport Bossier Rescue Mission, the Philadelphia Center and the Feist Weiller Cancer Center, the property is a long-time sponsor of the African American History Parade in northwest Louisiana.

Pastore explained that giving back to the local community is a reflection of Sam's Town Shreveport and Boyd Gaming as a company.

'We are proud to be a part of the Shreveport-Bossier community and are committed to making sure that it's a better place because we are part of it,' said Pastore.

To learn more about Sam's Town Shreveport, please visit www.samstownshreveport.com.

• Photos(4)

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.