Meridian Hospitality Appreciation Picnic

Visit Meridian Tourism is here hosting the first-ever Hospitality Appreciation Picnic. The Hotel and Restaurant industry suffer from extensive staffing shortages requiring dedicated employees to work extended hours and consecutive days with no time off. This event is in recognition of workers who have given of themselves tirelessly over the last 18+ months.

"We really tried to look at what we can do to thank them. For several months we were closed down and they didn't have income then they opened back up and we are busier than expected and now they are working a ridiculous amount of hours to take care of our guests so this is what we thought of," said Dede Mogollon the Executive Director of Visit Meridian.

Hotel and restaurant employees faced severe hardships when their livelihoods came to a screeching halt at the start of the pandemic and since reopening some have been working long hours

"We have heard of hotels having to have a supervisor work 40 days straight to take care of the guest."

Visit Meridian has teamed up with local businesses in Queen City to take part in today's event.

“We think of frontline workers being medical or law enforcement and we forget about restaurant people and hotels so the opportunity to give them a thank you, we couldn’t wait,” said Debbe Delshade the Marketing Director Of Uptown Meridian.

Bobi Harmon the Marketing Director of Mississippi State Games said, "This is just our way of giving back and saying thank you."

Some employees who came to the appreciation event today explain how they feel about being recognized for all of their hard work and dedication.

Latoya McGee of Lala Enterprise said, " II think that this is great and that we should have been had this and i hope they have this annually, so this is goog for the employees and the kids especially with everything that is going on. We all need some sort of celebration and some kind of happiness."

Sharon Scott an Employee at Weideman's said, “I want to thank them for throwing this and their appreciation to us, we want to thank yall."

Visit meridian partnered with local businesses to secure door prizes and has arranged food trucks, entertainment, and activities, such as bouncy houses and a touch-a-truck experience.

Today's event is for those workers who have dedicated so many hours and hard work. The City of Meridian says Thank You, you are seen, and your hard work is appreciated.