Visit Cook County is once again celebrating the area’s “Heart of Hospitality” by offering a free cup of coffee for hospitality and tourism industry workers Sept. 13-18, 2023.

 “We are thrilled to continue this event and celebrate the hard work of those who support our hospitality and tourism industry,” said Linda Jurek, Executive Director of Visit Cook County.

Who is eligible?

 Front and back of house staff that work in hospitality-based industries like dining, retail, lodging and activities. A short list includes servers, bartenders, housekeepers, receptionists, cooks, clerks, guides and so much more.

Where & When? 

From Sept. 13-18, these coffee shops are prepared to offer complimentary coffee beverages to hospitality workers. One coffee/drink per location.

• Fika Coffee in Lutsen (hours: 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. Friday - Monday | Closed Tuesday - Thursday)
• Java Moose in Grand Marais (hours: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 7 a.m. – 1 p.m. Sunday | Closed Monday)
• Loon’s Nest on the Gunflint Trail (hours: 7am - 1pm Monday - Saturday |Closed Sunday)

This event is part of a greater program initiated by Visit Cook County titled the “Heart of Hospitality” to celebrate the workers in the hospitality industry. Launched in 2019, local business owners and managers are asked to nominate employees who they believe exemplify hospitality excellence. An award is given to an employee from each tourism district. Nominations for this year’s “Heart of Hospitality” awards are open. Deadline for 2023 nominations is September 25, 2023.  To learn more about the award or to nominate an individual, please click here. Winners are announced at the Annual Fall Gala which will be held at Up Yonder on October 26, 2023. 

The Cook County Chamber of Commerce Business Awards are also open for the categories of Business of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, Business Leader of the Year and the Norman Deschampe Award. The deadline for Business Awards is September 22, 2023. Learn more about the Chamber Business Awards here.  

Visit Cook County, Minnesota 
Visit Cook County encompasses the northeastern Minnesota communities of Lutsen, Tofte, Schroeder, Grand Marais, the Gunflint Trail and Grand Portage, commonly referred to as “the Arrowhead” and the “North Shore of Lake Superior.”  Grand Marais, Minn., has earned several national accolades — most recently, it was named USA Today’s Best Midwestern Small Town and Outside Magazine’s The 16 Best Places to Live in the U.S. 2016. Rekindle your sense of adventure by exploring the Superior National Forest or paddling through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Discover what makes the communities of Cook County, Minn. “Naturally Unforgettable.” Connect on social media using #donorthmn, Twitter @CookCoVisitors, Facebook, or Instagram @donorthmn. Learn more at VisitCookCounty.com.