Amid a surf-n-turf lunch of chicken and salmon at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, the Tacoma Regional Convention + Visitor Bureau celebrated its 20th year Thursday by naming the annual Tourism Celebrity Award winners.

• Presented by County Executive Pat McCarthy, the Community Unity Award went to Denise Dyer of the county’s Economic Development Division.
• Presented by Katherine Kertzman, co-chairman of the Washington Tourism Commission, the Tourism Professional of the Year Award went to Craig Perry of the Dock Street and Delin Docks.
• Presented by Tacoma Mayor Bill Baarsma, the Allen C. Mason Tourism Visionary Award went to David Graybill, President and CEO of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber.

Earlier in the day, attendees heard the bureau’s annual report, delivered by President and CEO Tammy Blount, and also a progress report on the Tourism Promotion Area initiative, which may soon earn final approval (and could thereby nearly double the bureau’s income and spending power).

Attendees also participated in a series of “expert industry panels,” one of which (by way of full disclosure) featured a panelist from The News Tribune.