West Memphis, AR – March
2015 / Newsmaker Alert / Troy Keeping, president and general
manager of Southland Park Gaming
& Racing, was named the 2014 Tourism Person of the Year at the
Henry Awards on Tuesday to close the 41st Annual Arkansas Governor’s Conference
on Tourism.
The Henry Awards, held at the Arkansas Convention Center in Texarkana, took place during the Governor’s Banquet, attended by newly-elected governor Asa Hutchinson, along with approximately 500 of the state’s hospitality and tourism professionals. Selected by former honorees, the Tourism Person of the Year Award is presented annually to an individual who has been actively involved in tourism and who has made a substantial contribution, within the past year, to the betterment of the tourism industry as a whole. Keeping’s 2014 accomplishments were attributed as the basis for his selection, including, but not limited to, his duties as the president and general manager of one of the region’s largest and fastest growing gaming and entertainment destinations along with its significant economic impact in excess of $100 million in 2014, as well as his efforts to improve the community, highlighted by contributions to the growth of Mid-South Community College. Highly honored for the recognition, Keeping was quick to share the award with those around him. “I am so unbelievably honored to accept this award, but I must admit, I wouldn’t be able to do anything if it weren’t for the support of my wife, Maryann, my family and my team at Southland Park,” he said. “I have had some amazing experiences in my career but none of them have brought me the joy and excitement that being a part of the Arkansas tourism industry has.” Past recipients of the award
read like a “who’s who” in Arkansas tourism, including Jim Gaston (Gaston’s
White River Resort in the Ozark Mountains), Shelby and Wayne Woods (CJRW
– Arkansas’ largest advertising agency) and 2013’s winner, Alice Walton
(Wal-Mart and developer of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville).
About Southland Park Gaming & Racing Southland Park Gaming & Racing has been a major racing venue for more than 50 years and now also has over 1,700 electronic games of skill, including video poker and blackjack, as well as an upscale buffet restaurant, Shine Blounge, steakhouse, Sammy Hagar’s Red Rocker Bar & Grill and a multi-purpose event center. Southland Park has long been a pivotal fixture of the West Memphis community, strongly supporting the community with jobs, business stability, and economic contributions. It has consistently won awards for its outstanding community service, including millions of dollars donated to neighborhood charities and educational institutions. Southland Park is owned and operated by Delaware North. More information is available at www.SouthlandPark.com. About
Delaware North
|