Six degrees of celebration

Monday, Nov. 11 — On Tuesday, Nov. 12, voting begins for the 2014 Celebrated Service Award. The award was created in 2012 by Grand Rapids-based theater chain Celebration! Cinema to recognize businesses that show exemplary services and a dedication to quality.  

“Genuine and creative acts of service make everyone’s day better,” JD Loeks, President of Celebration! Cinema said in a news release. “Hospitality and service are part of the DNA of this region and we want to celebrate it.”

Awards are given in each of the Celebration!’s six markets: Benton Harbor, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Portage, Mt. Pleasant and Muskegon. The Lansing-area nominees are Buffalo Wild Wings, Chapelure, Flat, Black and Circular, Meijer, Sansu Sushi, Subway, Target, Texas Roadhouse and Weston’s Kewpee Sandwich Shop. Voting continues until Monday, Nov. 25 at celebratedservice.com.

The winning establishment will be awarded a package valued at $360,000 that includes a year of advertising on Celebration! Cinema screens and lobbies as well as being highlighted on Celebration!’s a social media. It also includes $5,000 in cash prizes, specialized training at Zingerman’s consulting and training business and a movie party. The establishment will also be given 10 movie passes per month to award to outstanding employees throughout the year.

Last year, Preuss Pets won in Lansing. Owner Rick Preuss said in a news release that winning not only brought heightened awareness of his business, but also reenergized his staff to stay committed to great service.

Celebration! Cinema employees nominated businesses around the area based on their experiences; the list was then whittled down to the final nine nominees and now the general public gets to decide. To vote or share your own story of fantastic service, go to celebratedservice.com. The winner will be announced Wednesday, Nov. 27.