Raimo Viitala wins 2010 Tourism Ambassador Award

This award is designed to recognize an individual or group who, while functioning as a volunteer(s), has made a significant contribution towards strengthening our local tourism economy, helping to achieve impressive results.

This individual or group has undertaken their work in the capacity of a volunteer and not as part of their regular paid employment.

This year’s recipient is Raimo Viitala.

To read profiles of other Tourism Sault Ste. Marie 2010 winners, please click here.

Here's what they said about Viitala at the award ceremony last night.

************************ Raimo was the Chairman of the 2010 Finn Grand fest and dedicated many hours over the past several years ensuring the event was not only well attended but well organized.

He was instrumental in working with Tourism Sault Ste. Marie to secure the bid for this event and worked tirelessly as an ambassador selling our city as a destination to host this world class festival.

The Finn Grand festival attracted thousands of visitors to our city and provided a significant economic impact from their spending in our hotels, restaurants and retail outlets.

Raimo is also the Honourary Consul to Sault Ste. Marie for the Finnish Consulate and has been an advocate for many years in bringing Finnish culture to our city. ************************