Augusta, Maine - The Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce awarded the Best Western Senator Inn & Spa “Business of the Year” at their annual award banquet held at the Augusta Civic Center on January 24, 2003. This annual event recognizes the outstanding companies and individuals in the area during the past year.

Presenting the award to Senator Inn & Spa owners Vern & Betsy Cook was Peter Thompson, president of the Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce. In his remarks, Thompson captured the essence of the success of the business. “The team of Betsy and Vern have been dedicated for the last 25 years or so in serving the travel and community needs in this area,” said Thompson. “For the Cooks and the staff of the Senator Inn, providing home away from home for visitors to Augusta, while maintaining a strong local patronage with its restaurant and spa has been a true labor of love.”

he Senator Inn was built in the late 1950s. In 1977, Vern and Betsy Cook joined the staff right out of college and over the next 25 years, totally renovated the property, adding more than 50,000 square feet of space, new suites, many with fireplaces, a full-service state of the art swim and health spa.

Over the years, the Senator Inn & Spa has won numerous awards for their lodging, banquet, dining and spa facilities. “This award by the Kennebec Valley Chamber is the culmination of the hard work and loyalty by our management and staff,” said Vern Cook. “Betsy and I share this award with them.”

In Maine and throughout New England, the Best Western Senator Inn & Spa is known for its outstanding accommodations and quality service. Their most recent addition includes 25 fireplace suites with Jacuzzi tubs, three televisions and telephones and a stereo CD player in an elegant two-room setting. Their award-winning restaurant is an Augusta favorite for locals and visitors alike.

Not content to sit on their accolades, Vern and Betsy Cook are busy now with plans for a sizeable expansion of their swim and health spa facilities this spring. As the Senator’s business philosophy states, “Take care of the guests, take care of the staff and everything else takes care of itself.”

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