SOUTHEAST TOURISM SOCIETY ANNOUNCES SHINING EXAMPLE AWARDS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE STS SHINING EXAMPLE AWARDS PRESS RELEASE CONTACT:  Tom Adkinson, APR tadkinson@bohanideas.com 615-341-8796 office 615-430-6947 cell Southeast Tourism Society Names Myrtle Beach Boardwalk Region's Travel Attraction of the Year Attractions, CVBs, Individuals Also Earn Shining Example Awards JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Nov. 5, 2013) - The 6.5 million, 1.2-mile-long Oceanfront Boardwalk and Promenade in Myrtle Beach, S.C., has received a Southeast Tourism Society Shining Example Award as the Escape to the Southeast Travel Attraction of the Year. The Southeast Tourism Society, which promotes travel in a 12-state region, presented 11 other Shining Example Awards as part of its 30th anniversary celebration in Jacksonville on Nov. 5. Three tourism promotion organizations received Shining Example Awards for their overall work: The Louisiana Office of Tourism was named the state travel department of the year. The Charleston, W.Va., Convention and Visitors Bureau received the award for CVBs with budgets less than $2 million. The Greater Ft. Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau received the award for CVBs with budgets greater than $2 million. In addition, the Governmental Tourism Leadership Award went to three jurisdictions in Virginia that recognized the power of cooperation and joint marketing. They are the City of Roanoke, the City of Salem and Roanoke County that united to support the Roanoke Valley CVB and its new tourism brand, "Virginia's Blue Ridge." John Dersham, executive director of DeKalb County Tourism in Alabama, received the Rising Star Award given to a tourism professional with fewer than five years in the industry  and Jim Wescott was the posthumous recipient of the Beacon Award for leadership. Wescott promoted the South Carolina Lowcountry for 27 years before his death earlier this year. Ruby Falls in Chattanooga, Tenn., received the Tourism for Tomorrow Award for its work in sustainable tourism. It was the 2012 Tourist Attraction of the Year. Festivals that won Shining Example Awards were the Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival in Ocean Springs, Miss., and the Master Musicians Festival in Somerset, Ky. The top marketing award went to Visit Greenville in Greenville, S.C., for its "Yeah, THAT Greenville" promotion of the popular Carolina Upcountry destination, and the niche marketing award went to the Virginia Beach CVB for its work to promote wedding tourism. "The best work in travel and tourism wins Shining Example Awards, and winners are examples that others in the industry can follow," said STS President and CEO Bill Hardman. "Winners truly are shining examples in tourism, which is the largest, second-largest or third-largest industry in every Southeastern state." STS started the Shining Example Awards program in 1985. Here is the full list for 2013. Escape to the Southeast Travel Attraction of the Year Oceanfront Boardwalk and Promenade - Myrtle Beach, S.C. CVB of the Year (budget less than $2 million) Charleston, W.Va., CVB CVB of the Year (budget greater than $2 million) Greater Ft. Lauderdale CVB Top 20 Event/Festival of the Year (attendance up to 100,000) Master Musicians Festival - Somerset, Ky. Top 20 Event/Festival of the Year (attendance more than 100,000) Peter Anderson Arts and Crafts Festival - Ocean Springs, Miss. Tourism for Tomorrow Ruby Falls - Chattanooga, Tenn. State Tourism Office of the Year Louisiana Office of Tourism Governmental Tourism Leadership Award City of Roanoke, City of Salem and Roanoke County, Val, for support of the Roanoake Valley CVB and its new tourism brand, "Virginia's Blue Ridge" Rising Star Award (for extraordinary on-the-job performance by someone with fewer than five years in tourism) John Dersham - executive director of DeKalb County Tourism in Alabama Beacon Award (for demonstrated tourism leadership) Jim Wescott - executive director of the South Carolina Low Country Tourism Commission Best Marketing Campaign Visit Greenville (S.C.) for its "Yeah, THAT Greenville" campaign Best Niche Marketing Campaign Virginia Beach CVB for its wedding tourism campaign Chairman of the Board Award Alisa Bailey, President & CEO, Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau Spirit of STS Award Ron Kuhlman, VP, Tourism Marketing & Sales, Virginia Beach CVB __________________________________________________________________ About STS Founded in 1983, the Southeast Tourism Society is dedicated to promoting and developing tourism in its member states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Its headquarters are in Atlanta. The membership includes state travel offices, attractions, lodging properties, resorts, convention and visitor bureaus, chambers of commerce, travel media and other travel-related organizations. __________________________________________________________________

About Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA) AMLA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of the travel industry within the 16 northernmost counties of the state. It is supported by 500-plus members consisting of chambers of commerce, Convention & Visitors Bureaus, attractions, campgrounds, festivals, communities, counties, golf courses, restaurants, tour operators, accommodations, vendors, financial institutions and individuals. Counties included within the AMLA region are Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan and Winston. Additional information on North Alabama destinations, accommodations and special events is available from the AMLA by calling 800.648.5381 or by visiting their web site at www.northalabama.org.