St. Louis Civic Pride Foundation

10/02/2026

🎁 Sometimes it's the smallest details that make a guest feel truly remembered.

Hospitality Superhero Traran McPike has spent three years with Midas Hospitality turning everyday requests at the front desk into thoughtful surprises. ❤️

When a guest had a Christmas present delivered to their boss's room, Traran didn't simply drop off the package. She found a gift bag, added a card and turned it into a special presentation.

When a longtime guest had to leave early because of illness, she organized a card signed by the front desk team and mailed it to their home. She's even made a trip to the post office for a guest who missed the mail carrier and decorated a guest's door for their birthday. 🎉

To Traran, these aren't just requests to check off a list. They're opportunities to make someone feel cared for.

Congratulations, Traran, for showing how a little extra thought can turn an ordinary hotel stay into something guests remember. 🌟👏

10/01/2026

🎭 The curtain may come down at The Fabulous Fox, but for Hospitality Superhero Scott Schumacher, taking care of guests doesn't necessarily end there.

After one performance, Scott helped a guest whose car battery had died. Once the car was running again, he realized the guest was still uneasy about driving home.

So Scott did something extraordinary: he followed them home to make sure they arrived safely. ❤️

It's a powerful example of the care Scott has brought to Guest Services at the Fox for 10 years. His job may begin inside the theatre, but his commitment to making guests feel safe, welcomed and cared for extends far beyond its doors.

Congratulations, Scott, and thank you for showing that true St. Louis hospitality means seeing the experience through to the very end. 🌟👏

09/30/2026

🎢 For Hospitality Superhero Kaitlyn Umfleet, the thrill of a day at Mid America Adventure should be something every guest has the opportunity to experience.

For 10 years, the Rides Supervisor has helped guests with disabilities safely experience attractions they may have thought were out of reach.

During one Fright Fest weekend, Kaitlyn spent the day with a young boy from Gaza who had lost a leg, personally escorting him and his family from ride to ride. She helped navigate specialized harnesses and accommodations so he could experience as much of the park as possible. ❤️

On another visit, she planned an entire day around attractions that could accommodate a young guest with a leg amputation — even helping him ride one of his favorites multiple times.

Those aren't simply days at an amusement park. They're childhood memories families get to carry home.

Thank you, Kaitlyn, for helping make the fun, thrills and unforgettable moments of St. Louis more accessible to everyone. 🌟👏

09/29/2026

💎 Imagine realizing the diamond from a cherished ring disappeared during a night at the theater.

For one guest at Kirkwood Performing Arts Center, that's exactly what happened, and Hospitality Superhero Janis Korn wasn't going to give up on finding it.

Janis has spent 30 years in hospitality, including six at Kirkwood Performing Arts Center, where she's known for making the guest experience every bit as memorable as the performance itself.

After learning about the missing diamond, Janis asked exactly where the guest had been sitting and searched the theater herself — even though the space had already been cleaned overnight.

Against the odds, she found it wedged against a chair leg near the wall. ❤️

It's one incredible example of the care Janis brings to every guest, from helping patrons find the perfect seat to adding thoughtful touches throughout their visit.

Congratulations to Hospitality Superhero Janis Korn for proving that going the extra mile can sometimes mean finding something priceless. 🌟👏

09/28/2026

📚 What happens when the experience a family came to enjoy has already closed for the day?

Hospitality Superheroes Conor Killen and Samantha Smith find another way to make the visit special. ❤️

When a family visiting St. Louis while their child underwent cancer treatment arrived at the Missouri History Museum hoping to explore the History Clubhouse, they discovered it had already closed.

Instead of letting the visit end in disappointment, Visitor Experience Associates Conor and Samantha stepped in.

Together, they personally guided the family through the World's Fair exhibit, shared stories about St. Louis history, gave the children museum stickers and recommended more family-friendly places to experience around the city. They even shared their contact information in case the family needed more suggestions during their stay.

By the time they left, the children were excitedly talking about history and asking when they could come back.
It's a reminder that sometimes the most memorable part of a visit isn't what you originally planned to do — it's the people who take the time to make you feel welcome along the way.

Congratulations to Hospitality Superheroes Conor Killen and Samantha Smith for turning an unexpected change of plans into a St. Louis memory this family could take home. 🌟👏

09/24/2026

🌟 For 41 years, generations of St. Louis visitors have been welcomed by the same familiar face.

His name is Randy Will. But if you’ve stayed at the St. Louis Union Station Hotel, you might know him as “The Mayor.” ❤️

Randy is a Bell Attendant and Hospitality Heroes Lifetime Achievement Award recipient who has been welcoming guests since the hotel reopened in 1985.

For more than four decades, he has carried bags, shared restaurant recommendations, talked Cardinals baseball and helped visitors discover St. Louis.

Most importantly, he remembers the people who walk through the doors.

Families who met Randy decades ago now return with their children and grandchildren. Longtime guests are greeted with hugs, and Randy remembers their stories and looks for ways to make their stay easier.

Even off the clock, “The Mayor” has been known to stop and talk with guests, sharing recommendations, St. Louis history and a little Cardinals baseball.
One family summed it up perfectly: “Randy truly embodies world-class service and hospitality. He made our stay unforgettable.”

That’s what makes Randy’s story so special. There isn’t one grand moment that defines his career. There are 41 years of moments—thousands of hellos, countless recommendations and conversations that made strangers feel like friends.

Randy has become more than a Bell Attendant. He has become part of the St. Louis experience itself. 💙

Congratulations, Randy, and thank you for showing visitors what St. Louis hospitality feels like. 👏🌟

09/24/2026

🌟 What if one of the greatest lessons you learned in business school came from the person keeping the building clean?

For MBA graduate Sam Stewart, it did.

Meet Bernard Brooks, a custodian at the Knight Center Hotel at Washington University with FLIK Hospitality Group—and a Hospitality Heroes Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. ❤️

For years, Bernard has done much more than care for the spaces around him. He has cared for the people in them. Students. Faculty. Guests. Coworkers.

A warm greeting in the hallway. An encouraging word. An infectious smile. The kind of work ethic and positivity that makes people stop, notice and want to carry a little of it with them.

Then came Washington University's May 2026 Commencement.

Standing before thousands of graduates, families and faculty members, MBA graduate Sam Stewart paused his graduation address to recognize Bernard.

He told the crowd that Bernard's work ethic, humility and joyful spirit had become one of the most meaningful examples of leadership he'd encountered during his time at the university. Bernard had made such an impression that Stewart said he hoped his own son would someday grow up to be "half the man Bernard is."

Think about that.

Not because Bernard was trying to make an impression.
Because he showed up, day after day, and treated people with kindness, dignity and respect.

After the ceremony, faculty and staff began sharing their own stories about Bernard, reinforcing something the Knight Center community had known for years: his impact reaches far beyond the spaces he maintains.

That is hospitality.

It's proof that you don't need a certain title to make someone feel welcome. You don't need a grand gesture to change someone's day. And you never know which seemingly ordinary interaction someone will remember years later.

Bernard Brooks reminds us that every role has the power to shape someone's experience—and every person has the opportunity to make another person feel seen. 💙

Congratulations, Bernard, and thank you for showing St. Louis what being a Hospitality Hero looks like. 👏🌟

09/23/2026

✨ Get ready to meet the people who make St. Louis feel like St. Louis.

A great trip might start with an attraction, hotel or restaurant. But the moments you remember often come down to the people you meet along the way.

The person who welcomes you after a long travel day. The team member who anticipates what you need. The people behind the scenes making every experience feel effortless.

Those are our Hospitality Heroes. ❤️

Established by Explore St. Louis, Hospitality Heroes celebrates the individuals and teams creating exceptional visitor experiences across our region, from hotels and restaurants to attractions, transportation, cultural institutions and more.

Some are recognized for one extraordinary act of service. Others have spent decades making guests feel welcomed, valued and appreciated.

Over the coming weeks, we’ll introduce you to these remarkable people and share the stories behind their service.

Because hospitality is about more than where you stay or what you experience. It’s about how a place makes you feel, and the people who make you want to come back. 💙

Stay tuned as we celebrate St. Louis’ Hospitality Heroes. 🌟

05/12/2026

This year, Explore St. Louis also welcomed Dan Sattel and Christianne Klein, founders of the FoodFamilyTravel brand, along with their globe-trotting seven-year-old daughter.

Although Sattel hails from St. Louis, he set out to experience his hometown through a visitor’s lens – “with curiosity, discovery and a willingness to be surprised.”

In partnership with the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis, St. Louis Union Station, Miss Augusta and Vicia, we showed the family a great time.

We encourage you and every St. Louisan to be a tourist in your own town! Read about their memorable experience and additional recommendations below.

Rediscover the vibrant city of St. Louis with our insider's guide. Explore St. Louis like a tourist and uncover hidden gems and luxury spots.