Christiane Skinner Vermont Tourism Champion of the Year 

Please note that this award is no longer being presented at the Vermont Tourism Summit. See our current award offerings.

About the Award

Christiane Skinner

The Christiane Skinner Vermont Tourism Champion of the Year exemplifies an ongoing dedication to what makes Vermont such a special place to visit. The award is presented to an individual who contributes significantly to Vermont's travel and tourism industry and the recipient is selected by an independent panel assembled by the Vermont Tourism Summit (VTS) Board of Directors. The award is presented at the Vermont Tourism Summit.

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In September 2015, the Vermont Tourism Summit Planning Committee unanimously voted to change the name of the Vermont Travel Person of the Year award to the Christiane Skinner Vermont Tourism Champion of the Year. Christiane, who was fluent in French, moved from Montreal to Vermont in 1987. She studied tourism and the travel trade in Spain in the early 1980s. After 20 years as a travel agent both in Canada and Vermont, she joined the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing (VDTM) in January 2001. At VDTM, Christiane represented Vermont at consumer and travel trade shows, attended group tour and coach marketplaces, and implemented North American and international sales missions. She is known by many within Vermont's travel industry and was a longtime supporter of the Vermont Tourism Summit. After being diagnosed with terminal cancer, Christiane retired from VDTM in 2015, and passed away that fall. As reflected in the award criteria, Christiane was a true champion for the state of Vermont and the tourism industry. The Summit was honored to rename the prestigious Vermont Travel Person of the Year award to the Christiane Skinner Vermont Tourism Champion of the Year, and to present the award in Christiane's memory to her son at the 2016 Summit. 

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Criteria

In selecting the winning candidate, the Committee will consider whether the individual: 

• Encourages Vermont travelers to visit the state
• Enforces the Vermont brand
• Helps position Vermont as a friendly and fun place to visit 
• Represents to Vermonters and visitors why Vermont is a desirable destination 
• Promotes the value of tourism to the state's economy 
• Preserves, protects and promotes the good qualities of Vermont
• Works for cooperation with the travel industry among other appropriate industries within the state
• Exemplifies what is good within the travel industry and within our local communities

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Past Winners

1989 Lorraine Beaulieu, Central Vermont Chamber
1990 Christopher Barbieri, Vermont Chamber of Commerce
1991 Auri Brunell, Basin Harbor Club
1992 Robert Townsend, UVM Extension Service
1993 Mary Canedy, Mt. Snow/Haystack Regional Chamber
1994 Gene P. Cenci, Sheraton Burlington Hotel
1995 Marcelle Moran, Rock of Ages Visitor Center
1996 Carol Levesque, Comfort Inn at Maplewood
1997 Joyce Morse, Belview Campground
1998 Bill Stenger, Jay Peak Resort
1999 Maynard Aiken, Harlow Farm
2000 Dave Kaufman, Vermont Tourism Network
2001 Ted Bridges, Cortina Inn
2002 Linda Seville, The Inn at Essex
2003 Sue Kruthers, Vermont Chamber of Commerce
2004 David Dillon, Vermont Ski Areas Association
2005 Gayle Ottmann, Quechee Chamber of Commerce
2006 Trena Whiton, Vermont Chamber of Commerce
2007 Chuck Baraw, Stoweflake Resort
2009 Sue White, Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing
2010 Chris Francis, Ye Olde England Inn of Stowe
2011 Bill Orleans, PP&D Brochure Distribution
2012 Gregory Gerdel, Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing
2013 Betsy Luce, Sugarbush Farms
2014 Nancy Illemann-Rock, Smugglers’ Notch Resort
2015 Pennie Beach, Basin Harbor Club
2016 Christiane Skinner, Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing
2017 ​Burr Morse, Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks
2018 Karen Ballard, Vermont Attractions Association
2019 Brenda Greika, Vermont Department of Labor
2020 No award presented
2021 No award presented

2019 Christiane Skinner Vermont Tourism Champion of the Year award recipient Brenda Grieka (center). Photo Credit: Bob LoCicero

2017 Christiane Skinner Vermont Tourism Champion of the Year award recipient Burr Morse (second from left). Photo Credit: David Burnell