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The recognition was one of sixteen Shining Example Awards presented during Southeast Tourism Society’s annual Connections conference.

Florida Oceanographic Ocean EcoCenter has been named the Escape to the Southeast Travel Attraction of the Year for 2022. Located on Hutchinson Island, this 57-acre marine life nature center was built to inspire environmental stewardship of Florida’s coastal ecosystems through three key pillars: education, research, and advocacy. In July 2021, this attraction made headlines when it debuted its highly anticipated capital expansion, the Ocean EcoCenter. The 27,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art attraction houses a 5,000-square-foot multipurpose Ocean Exploration Lab, 2,000 gallons of aquariums showcasing more than 300 local fish and invertebrates, and 30 new exhibit elements.

The Shining Example Partnership Award for cooperative tourism work went to the African American Experience of Northeast North Carolina created by Camden County Tourism Development Authority, Chowan County Tourism Development Authority, Currituck County Department of Travel and Tourism, Outer Banks Visitors Bureau, Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Tourism Development Authority, and Perquimans County Tourism Development Authority. More than 30 visitor-ready sites were identified, leading to the development of a self-guided, digital heritage trail that includes interpretive signs and monuments, parks, waterways, and museums with the mission to inspire exploration and appreciation for the African American experience in this region.

The Shining Example Rising Star Award went to the Director of Social Media of Visit Lake Charles, Kathryn Shea Duncan.

Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival received the STS Event or Festival of the Year Award. The music festival attracted an impressive attendance of 27,000 people, and not only brought entertainment and delight to those who attended, but also recognition and economic benefit to their local and regional communities.

Jeffrey Crowe, Heaven Hill Distillery and Nicole Twigg, Louisville Tourism; received the Chairman of the Board Award for their leadership with the transition of Domestic Showcase.

The efforts, creativity, and success stories that were brought to life by tourism marketing teams always attract a lot of attention and earn multiple Shining Example awards. Three of these awards are based on budgets and one based on niche marketing. The winners of the Best Marketing Shining Example Awards are as follows:

• Columbia County Conventions & Visitors Bureau (Georgia) won for its “Serene18 Paddle Trail (budget of less than $100,000).
• Visit Clarksville (Tennessee) won for its “Fall Travel” campaign (budget of $100,000 - $499,000).
• Currituck County Department of Travel (North Carolina) won for its “Simply Corolla, NC – Find Yourself Here” campaign (budget of more than $500,000).
• Louisiana Office of Tourism won the Best Niche Marketing Award for its Louisiana Civil Rights Trail campaign

• Visit Oxford (Mississippi) was named the Tourism Office of the Year for organizations with budgets of less than $1 million.
• Visit Myrtle Beach (South Carolina) was named the Tourism Office of the Year for organizations with budgets of more than $1 million.

• The Beacon Award, which honors someone for their outstanding tourism leadership over a career, went to Dan Rowe.
• The annual Government Tourism Leadership Award went to Pro Tem Mayor and District 5 Commissioner Seth Clark of Macon-Bibb County.
• The Best Epicurean Partner was awarded to Tammy Jordan, President, Executive Pastry Chef, and Lead Agriculture Instructor of Fruits of Labor, Inc.
• The Best Lodging Partner was awarded to 106 Jefferson in Huntsville, Alabama.

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Media Contact: 
Tonja Ray-Smith, TMP
Marketing & Communications Manager
Southeast Tourism Society
770-355-4002

Previous Release: Southeast Tourism Society to Celebrate 30 Years of Marketing College® (04-14-22)