Roland and Anne Neave, owners of British Columbia-based Wells Gray Tours have donated 160 acres of wetlands near Clearwater to Thompson Rivers University for educational and research purposes. At a Sept. 30 ceremony, the university’s president, Dr. Alan Shaver, unveiled the area dubbed the Neave Family Wetlands. “Roland and Anne have been supporters of Thompson Rivers University for many years,” said Shaver. “This special ecosystem is very important to the Neaves, and we are honored to receive this gift which will benefit TRU students and researchers for years to come.” The Neave Family Wetlands are adjacent to Wells Gray Provincial Park, which is currently the focus of a community-backed bid for UNESCO World Heritage recognition. “This generous gift from the Neave family enables generations of students and faculty to examine delicate and complicated ecosystems that are not found anywhere else in Wells Gray Park and possibly in B.C.,” said Dr. Tom Dickinson, TRU dean of science. HHA Honors Two NTA Members Strater Hotel of Durango, Colorado, and Jekyll Island Club Hotel of Jekyll Island, Georgia, received honors at last month’s Historic Hotels of America Awards of Excellence gala. The annual event recognizes exemplary hoteliers and leadership practices. The Barker family, which has run the Strater Hotel for three generations since purchasing it in 1926, was awarded the Legendary Family Historic Hoteliers of the Year award. Patty Henning of Jekyll Island Club Hotel was chosen as Historic Hotels of America’s Ambassador of the Year. McGrath Named VP of Sales for Richmond Region Tourism Kristin McGrath has joined Richmond Region Tourism as the Virginia DMO’s new vice president of sales and services. McGrath came to Richmond from the Providence Warwick CVB, where she had been vice president of sales since 2005. In her new role, McGrath promotes the Richmond area to meetings and event planners, generates leads for the sales team and coordinates with local hospitality providers.