ADVANCE TRAVEL & TOURISM RECEIVES CHAIRMAN AWARD
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (April 24, 2018) – Advance Travel & Tourism received the Chairman Award from the 12-state Southeast Tourism Society (STS) at the association’s inaugural Connections conference in Myrtle Beach.
Advance Travel & Tourism was one of 14 winners of Shining Example Awards that recognize excellence in tourism. Louisiana, with four winners, and West Virginia, with three winners, were the most acknowledged states.
The Chairman’s award is given to an organization that goes above and beyond in contributing to the efforts of STS.
Here is a recap of the winners:
Tourism Office of the Year with budgets of up to $2 million
Greenbrier County CVB (West Virginia)
Tourism Office of the Year with budgets of more than $2 million
St. Tammany Parish Tourism and Convention Commission (Louisiana)
Escape to the Southeast Travel Attraction of the Year
Rock City (Tennessee)
STS Top 20 Festival of the Year
Natchitoches Christmas (Louisiana)
Governmental Tourism Leadership Award
Louisiana Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser
Partnership Award
Greenbrier Valley Tourism Recovery Partnership (West Virginia)
Rising Star Award
Kelly Collins (State Fair of West Virginia)
State Tourism Office of the Year
Alabama Tourism Department
Beacon Award
Shelley Johnson (Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana CVB)
Best Marketing Award <$500K
Birthplace of Country Music (Bristol, Tenn./Bristol, Va.)
Best Marketing Award >$500K
Visit North Carolina
Best Niche Marketing Award
South Carolina African American Heritage Commission
Chairman’s Award
Advance Travel & Tourism (Birmingham, Ala.)
Dorothy Hardman Spirit of STS Award
Georgia Turner (West Volusia Tourism Bureau, DeLand, Fla.)
About STS
Founded in 1983, Southeast Tourism Society (southeasttourism.org) promotes and develops tourism in its 12 member states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Its headquarters are in Atlanta. Membership includes state travel offices, convention and visitors bureaus, lodging properties, attractions, travel media and other travel-related organizations.
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