The Gateway Tourism Council is a non-profit organization based in Bayonne that represents the tourism industry in Hudson County, as well as Essex, Bergen, Middlesex, Passaic and Union counties. It provides services to tourism businesses like meetings, trade shows, exhibitions, anything that promotes the tourism in the six-county region.
Annually, the Gateway Tourism Council holds a business card exchange program, where members exchange phone numbers and information, just in case one member could help another. At that same time, the group gives out its President’s Awards honoring those who excelled in the world of tourism over the past year.
However, the leaders of the Gateway Council realized something incredible when the group held its October meeting – the level of volunteerism their members displayed during the Sept. 11 tragedy.
"We were talking during that October meeting and we then understood the magnitude of what our members did," said Suzanne Clare, the executive director of the Gateway Tourism Council. "We started finding out bits and pieces and they all turned into larger stories. We realized that the tragedy of Sept. 11 wasn’t just a New York City tragedy. It affected everyone, and we found out just how much New Jersey did to help the people pull through."
So instead of giving out President’s Awards to members, the organization decided to honor those in the tourism business who went far and beyond the call of duty to help people on Sept. 11.
Last month, at a ceremony at the Brennan Court House in Jersey City, Hudson County Executive Bernard Hartnett and Gateway Tourism Council President Sheelagh Wylie honored the local businesses who opened their doors and their hearts to the victims of the World Trade Center tragedy, several of whom call Weehawken home.
The Gateway Council honored Weehawken businesses NY Waterway, Spirit of New Jersey, Horizon Cruises and the Sheraton Suites Weehawken, as well as the Doubletree Club Hotel in Jersey City, Courtyard by Marriott in Jersey City and the Liberty Science Center. Rev. Kevin Ashe of the Park Performing Arts Center in Union City was also honored for his humanitarian efforts on that day.
All of the honorees selflessly sacrificed the benefit of their businesses to aid in the cause. For example, Sheraton Suites turned its ballroom into a triage center to help any injured people that were evacuated out of Manhattan. They opened their doors to other people who just needed a place to stay for a little while before making it home safely to their loved ones, providing food, water, towels, anything they could.
All three of the Weehawken water transportation companies, namely NY Waterway, Spirit of New Jersey and Horizon Cruises, were used as the evacuation vehicles out of Manhattan, transporting as many as 60,000 people out of Manhattan to Weehawken for safety.
"It was a case of people helping people in their time of need," Clare said. "We wanted them to know how much they were appreciated and it was a small way of saying, ‘Thank you.’ These were the people on the front line, who stopped everything to help those in need. This award was just a small measure of thanks."
The awards were especially made for the presentation, a small glass cube with the etching of a waving American flag and the Statue of Liberty, perched on a marble base. Each group was also presented with a special citation from County Executive Bernard Hartnett as well.
Touched
The honorees were touched by the presentation.
"It’s certainly nice to be recognized for what we did," said Larry Moran, the president of Horizon Cruises. "The Gateway Tourism Council did a good job of recognizing what was done, but looking back, it was all instinctual. Considering what was happening, I think anyone would have done what we did. We were glad to be of service."
"It’s a wonderful feeling to receive the award," said Louis Alvarado, the sales manager at Sheraton Suites Weehawken. "To be recognized by the community in such troubled times is a great thing. Of course, no one will ever forget what happened. We had an exodus of people and we tried to help and accommodate as many people as possible."
Clare said that the tourism industry has suffered locally since Sept. 11.
"Many have had staffs reduced," Clare said. "Some have been cut back to half staff. It’s been difficult for many of our members. But this was a way for us to remember what happened and honor our members who really helped everyone pull through."