The Greene County Partnership and area lodging facilities celebrated "International Housekeepers Week," Sept. 14-20 by having a friendly competition in eight different categories pertaining to housekeeping.

The participants competed in eight different categories: Pillow Amenity, Amenity Display, Towel Display, Best Bed Display, Visitor Information Display, Best Dressed Housekeeper, Sheet Folding and Meeting Space Presentation.

The group designated Sept. 17, as the day of judging and selected Ron Metcalfe, of WGRV/WIKQ/WSMG; Tracy Kilday, of Triangle Contractors and Barry Wilson, of Charter Media, to serve as judges.

The judges, along with Tammy Kinser, of the Greene County Partnership, visited each participating property on that day and ranked each establishment's entry.

Winners of the 2nd Annual International Housekeepers Week awards are as follows:

* Pillow Amenity - Comfort Inn;

* Amenity Display - General Morgan Inn;

* Towel Display - Comfort Inn;

* Best Bed Display - Jameson Inn;

*Visitor Information Display - Jameson Inn;

* Best Dressed Housekeeper - General Morgan Inn;

* Sheet Folding - General Morgan Inn;

* Meeting Space Presentation - General Morgan Inn.

"I feel that each of the properties took this competition very seriously, but had a lot of fun doing it," Kinser said.

"The general managers at each of the properties told me that the housekeepers were very excited about being able to compete and to hopefully be honored by winning one or more of the categories.

"They do such a wonderful job that goes unnoticed by a lot of people and their work is one of the first impressions that some tourists have of our community," Kinser said.

Walt Baker, CEO of the Tennessee Hotel & Lodging Association, said, "First impressions are lasting impressions. Many times, a hotel room is the only experience people have of a city -- a place to rest before going to the next destination."