An owner and onsite general manager at the Mesa Verde Motel in Mancos has received the Frontline Hospitality Tourism Worker award from Colorado Governor’s Office of Tourism.

Sally Dziedzic was named as a winner of the award. She and her husband, Matt Dziedzic, along with couple Sonia and Matt Vincent, own the Mesa Verde Motel and recently completed a renovation and rebrand of the property, at 191 W. Railroad Ave.

Dziedzic is new to the tourism industry, chasing a dream with her best friend and partner. The two couples bought the property in November 2021, and through DIY projects and renovations added a coffee shop and cocktail lounge, completed in late 2023, according to Dziedzic.

“I was very pleasantly surprised for the fact that it's a statewide kind of award and up against pretty established and other big partners across the state, and us being here in little old Mancos,” Dziedzic told a Journal reporter.

Business has been growing for the motel in Mancos, and reception from the community has been “wonderful,” Dziedzic said. The business has begun catching attention from surrounding communities as well, including Durango, Cortez and Dolores.

“We've had repeat guests at the motel, which is the ultimate compliment,” Dziedzic said. “It’s been going really, really well, and it’s seeing our hard work pay off.”

The renovations to the property were big projects for the two couples. They hired two artists for the artwork in the space, and did everything else themselves. Now, the business wants to settle in for a while.

“I think because we're almost at this-three year mark since purchasing and we have been consistently growing and renovating and adding and doing all of these things, we do feel like now we're at a point where we just want to operate for a little bit with what we have,” Dziedzic said. “We are always looking at like where we need to make changes, or how we need to tweak things here and there, but no major projects in the works as of now, but never say never.”

The Frontline Hospitality Tourism Worker award “recognizes a person that has made significant contributions to delivering excellence in hospitality for Colorado’s tourism industry,” according to the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade’s website. A frontline worker is one who comes into direct contact with residents and visitors to provide goods and services.

Multiple winners are awarded this honor based on the strength of their nomination and their supporting information. Winners of all tourism-related awards receive recognition at the Colorado Tourism Governor’s Conference Awards Dinner on Sept. 26 in Mount Crested Butte, a commemorative award, recognition on the Colorado Tourism Office website, and mention in a press release and subsequent press coverage.

Dziedzic said she plans on attending the three-day long conference and award dinner to celebrate her accomplishment and hard work.