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.