On April 22, hospitality industry leaders gathered at the South Carolina State House in Columbia for Hospitality Day and among the celebrations, presented the 2026 Hospitality Employee of the Year (HEY) Award to Angela Livingston, Pre-Arrival Specialist from Marriott’s Ocean Watch Villas in Myrtle Beach.
The HEY award is coordinated and co-sponsored by the South Carolina Area Tourism Regions (SCATR) and SCPRT. Les McCall, Executive Director of Lake Hartwell Country and President of SCATR, presented the award.
“Angela Livingston exemplifies exceptional guest care and hospitality,” Rajka Osim, General Manager, Marriott’s Ocean Watch Villas, shared in Angela’s nomination. “As a Pre-Arrival Specialist, she is the first point of contact for every visiting family, ensuring their needs are understood and met long before they arrive. Angela exemplifies outstanding service and dedication to the hospitality industry through her professionalism, reliability, and heartfelt commitment to both guests and the community.”
Additionally, Joy Raintree, director of South Carolina State Parks, recognized South Carolina State Parks’ Rangers of the Year, including Joshua Haney of Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet for the Upper Coastal Region category.
“Our Rangers of the Year represent the best of the best in the Park Service,” said Joy Raintree. “Every day in the life of a Ranger looks different, and this career path requires equal parts creativity and professionalism… passion and compassion. We are in the business of protecting iconic landscapes, sharing important stories, and ultimately, making treasured memories. I’m so proud of these Rangers, and the greater team that they represent, for their commitment to stewardship and service, and the way they lead by example.”
Hospitality Day Celebration
Speakers also highlighted the importance of our tourism assets in shaping South Carolina’s identity as a destination, from our cities and small towns to our unique natural resources. They explained that tourism, and the jobs, growth, and tax dollars it brings, thrives where beauty is treated as an asset worth protecting.
“Today is about recognizing what powers South Carolina’s $31 billion tourism industry – and that’s our people and our places,” said Duane Parrish, director of the South Carolina Parks, Recreation & Tourism (SCPRT). “Our people create the experiences visitors remember. It’s the warm smiles, friendly greetings, and shared stories, all steeped in the authentic Southern charm we are so well known for… Our places provide the foundation for visitor experiences, serving as both treasured destinations and powerful economic drivers.”
Recognizing the expanding role South Carolina State Parks play in preserving the state’s heritage, fostering conservation, and driving tourism, SCPRT has requested the largest investment of state dollars in agency history this budget cycle. The Play it Forward initiative asks for $185 million to support critical infrastructure needs in State Parks.
In honor of National Travel & Tourism Week (NTTW), South Carolina media members are encouraged to reach out to local travel and tourism-related businesses like hotels, restaurants, and local attractions to help spotlight and celebrate the people who fuel the industry around the state. Find more tools and resources to celebrate the recognition week in our dedicated South Carolina NTTW Toolkit.
Discover all the rich history, sandy beaches, pristine lakes, rolling foothills, and family attractions a South Carolina vacation has to offer at DiscoverSouthCarolina.com. Visit ustravel.org/NTTW to learn more about National Travel and Tourism Week.
