The Cabarrus County Convention and Visitors Bureau honored hospitality and tourism professionals at The Farmstead in Mt. Pleasant during their annual Celebrate Cabarrus event.

The 2018 “Golden Helmet” award winners are:

Restaurant of the Year – 73 & Main

Attraction of the Year – K1 Speed

Hotel of the Year – Homewood Suites

Small Business of the Year – OMG Donuts

Outstanding Ambassador – Arlene Stone, Charlotte Motor Speedway

Unsung Hero – Argelia Cabral, Hilton Garden Inn

Hospitality Professional of the Year – Susan McEntire, Charlotte Motor Speedway

Hometown Hero – Leanne Powell, Southern Grace Distilleries

Destination Visionary Award – Dr. Allen Dobson

Smith Family Lifetime Achievement Award – Sam Bass

The Golden Helmet Awards were created to honor those who continuously make memorable experiences for visitors  by going beyond the call of duty to “wow guests and strengthen our destination’s reputation.”

New this year, the Smith Family Lifetime Achievement Award was created to honor an individual in our community who has dedicated their life’s work to a passion that elevates Cabarrus County as a visitor destination. Marcus Smith presented the first-ever Smith Family Lifetime Achievement Award to Sam Bass.

Cabarrus County ranks 12th in travel impact among North Carolina’s 100 counties, and domestic visitors to and within Cabarrus County spent a record $446.84 million in 2017. For more of the latest tourism impact statistics, view “The Economic Impact of Travel on North Carolina Counties 2017”—a study prepared for Visit North Carolina by the U.S. Travel Association.