Restaurateur Dan Meiser will receive the Joyce O. Resnikoff Excellence in Tourism Award at the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce 2018 Annual Gala, Jingle and Mingle, Celebration of Giving on Dec. 6 at the Mystic Marriott.

Meiser first opened Oyster Club, called the Best Upscale Restaurant in Connecticut by the Connecticut Restaurant Association, and one of the Best Oyster Bars in America by Travel & Leisure Magazine. Along with his executive chef partner, James Wayman, he opened the Engine Room and, in 2017, Grass & Bone, a butcher shop and restaurant. Finally, Meiser and his wife, Jane, are developing the 250-year-old Stone Acres Farm into a 63-acre destination, with its grand main house, stone walls, pastures, woodlands, orchards and wetlands.

“Dan’s amazing restaurants have helped make Mystic a major foodie destination. These dining experiences have brought a whole new population of tourists to our region," Chamber President Peggy Roberts said.

The 2018 Mystic Chamber Champion Award winner is The Whaler’s Inn. Owned by Per Heidenreich and partners, and run by General Manager Amanda Arling, the Mystic hotel has been restored to its historical 1865 beauty. The inn supports such organizations as the Greater Mystic Chamber, Always Home, the Downtown Mystic Merchants Association and the Mystic Museum of Art. Arling is co-chair of the Mystic Outdoor Art Festival.

“The Whaler’s Inn team embodies an extra level of care and support for the community. We are proud to be able to honor them,” Roberts said.

The 2018 Mystic Chamber Volunteers of the Year are Ken and Joanne Levy, a married couple who have been giving their time and support to Mystic organizations for over 20 years. On Wednesdays, they staff the Welcome Center on Greenmanville Avenue, meeting with visitors in search of information about Mystic and all it has to offer. They volunteer at the Mystic Outdoor Art Festival, the Waterford Country School, Masonicare Home Health Hospice, Mystic Noank Library and Mystic Eats.

“We are all so grateful for the dedication and support they bring to us. Their sense of community is a beautiful thing,” Roberts said.