| Governor McGreevey
Lauds Efforts of Tourism Industry
at Annual Conference Accomplishments
Within The Tourism Industry Acknowledged
During the 2004 Governor's Tourism Awards
Secaucus, N.J. (March 18, 2004)—Governor
James E. McGreevey today lauded the efforts of the state's multi-billion
dollar tourism industry during a noontime address at the annual Governor's
Conference on Tourism held at the Crowne Plaza Meadowlands.
"Tourism is clearly one of New Jersey's greatest assets",
said McGreevey. "It is one of the most vital contributors to our state’s
economy and is a business that is especially important in terms of tourist
expenditures and tax revenues generated."
"We're keeping our promises and making the necessary
investments to ensure a thriving industry. Over the past year, we've secured
a dedicated source of funding for tourism and have continued to make necessary
infrastructure improvements such as the new RiverLINE, which will drive
visitors to the Camden Waterfront. We've preserved our role in history
by supporting the Crossroads of the American Revolution initiative. And
we're committed to developing the Meadowlands region and expanding Atlantic
City from a regional gaming-based day trip to a premier resort destination."
During his address, McGreevey congratulated the best of
the Garden State's tourism industry who were honored at the Governor's
Tourism Awards.
" This year's winners are a testament to the dedication,
enthusiasm and sincerity exhibited by professionals in New Jersey's Travel
& Tourism industry. They display a level of commitment unsurpassed,"
said Byrne. "We are proud to honor those who contributed to making
the 2003 tourism year a successful venture, continuing to promote New Jersey
as a premier tourism destination."
This year's 12 honorees include:
ARTS AWARD
The New Jersey Theatre Alliance will
receive the Arts Award in recognition of a program or activity that encourages
tourism and furthers the awareness, understanding and appreciation of the
arts in New Jersey. The New Jersey Theatre Alliance unveiled the first
statewide online discount ticketing service. The Web site (www.njartstix.org)
offers reduced tickets of up to 50% for performing arts events statewide
and is available for purchase up to 24 hours in advance of the event. It
serves New Jersey residents and enhances tourism by assisting customers
from New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.
HERITAGE TOURISM AWARD
The Road to Monmouth Heritage Campaign (Partnership)
is the recipient of the Heritage Tourism Award, which recognizes and encourages
the awareness, understanding and appreciation of New Jersey's history,
traditions and culture. The event celebrated the 225th anniversary of the
Monmouth Campaign that engulfed New Jersey in the summer of 1778. Eight
counties and 50 municipalities participated in the event that spanned from
Lambertville to Freehold, more than 55 miles in seven days.
ECO-TOURISM AWARD
Coast Day NJ-A Celebration of the Sea won the
honors of the Eco-Tourism Award, which recognizes a program or activity
that exhibits understanding, appreciation and respect of the environmental
location presented as a tourism attraction. Coast Day NJ is a project of
the NJ Marine Sciences Consortium promoting care, concern and appreciation
for New Jersey's bountiful coastline. This annual event educates the public
about New Jersey's marine and coastal environment with the goal of increasing
each visitor's awareness and appreciation of the state's coastal economy,
environmentally based tourism options, the seafood industry and the virtues
of dining on "Jersey Fresh."
ELECTED OFFICIAL LEADERSHIP AWARD
Ocean County Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari
is the recipient of the Elected Official Leadership Award for his encouragement
and budgetary financial support of the Ocean County Tourism Council. He
has been an ardent supporter of the tourism industry since he was elected
in 1982, emphasizing its contribution to the local economy, employment
and stabilizing the county's tax rate. Vicari has lobbied with both political
parties for increases in the state tourism budget and has increased the
county tourism budget each year since he has been in office.
ADVERTISING & MARKETING CAMPAIGN
AWARD (BUSINESS)
Cape May County Department of Tourism
will receive the Advertising/Public Relations/Marketing Award (Business)
for its Jersey Cape TV production that took the vacationer to the many
diverse attractions located in the resorts of Cape May County. Jersey Cape
TV is the brainchild of Alex D'Addio who worked with The Cape May County
Department of Tourism to produce an overwhelmingly successful program,
allowing for local advertising opportunities as well. More than 1.4 million
homes in South Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware County, and Philadelphia
have access to Jersey Cape TV.
ADVERTISING & MARKETING
CAMPAIGN AWARD (NON-PROFIT)
The Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce
will receive the Advertising/PR/Marketing Award (Non-Profit) for its proactive
efforts in assisting in the promotion of arts organizations in the area
at a time of financial constraint. The chamber developed a colorful brochure
to highlight myriad activities that are available to visitors and residents
during the summer months. The brochure promotes New Jersey, highlights
the multitude of activities and provides a direct economic benefit to the
community by encouraging attendance at programs.
MULTICULTURAL AWARD
The Seabrook Educational and Cultural Center
is this year's recipient of the Multicultural Award for preserving and
promoting the unique history of Seabrook, New Jersey. Seabrook is a place
where people of different races and cultural heritage were given the opportunity
for a new start in life during World War II. Many of the families who came
had been homeless and jobless by the war. Work of the center is conducted
through photographic preservation, oral histories, publications, research
and artifacts that tell the story of the immigrants who found a new home
in southern New Jersey.
PARTNERSHIP AWARD
Comcast Cable and Appel Farm will receive
the Partnership Award for combining their resources in 2003 to plan and
promote the 15th annual Appel Farm Arts and Music Festival, a nationally
recognized event that showcases the talents of emerging and internationally
established performing songwriters. Comcast offered financial support,
technical expertise and human resources that allowed Appel to broaden its
advertising. The partnership made music history, as CN8 the Comcast Network
secured exclusive television rights to produce an hour documentary and
six 30-minute performances by artists.
PINNACLE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Leslie Bensley, Executive Director of the Morris
County Visitors Center will be honored with the Pinnacle Award of
Excellence, which recognizes an individual who acts as an ambassador for
New Jersey Tourism, working not only to improve their individual business
or region, but also to promote New Jersey's economic growth through tourism.
In 1997 Leslie became Executive Director of the Morris County Visitors'
Center, which had been closed for many years. She took the all but bankrupt
organization with no stable source of funding or staff and turned it into
a fine-tuned, professional visitors' center that served over 8,000 visitors
in 2003. Another of her many major accomplishments involved obtaining Morristown's
designation as one of America's Dozen Distinctive Destinations by the National
Trust - the first and only state destination to have received this national
accolade.
SPECIAL EVENT AWARD
Bayshore Discovery Project-BayDay is
the Special Event Award winner. In 2003, the free family cultural festival,
faced a financial crisis, and an 11-year tradition was in jeopardy. Cumberland
County and Commercial Township provided financial support even though they
were facing budgetary challenges. While preserving this tradition, the
county and township recognized BayDay as providing short- and long-term
benefits to the regions economy, introducing visitors to the area's developing
cultural tourism and ecotourism offerings.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AWARD
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa is recognized
with the Economic Development Award for its valuable contributions to Atlantic
City's economic vitality. The 2003 opening was considered a turning point
in the next phase of growth for Atlantic City. Borgata, Italian for village,
became the first new resort in 13 years and the largest hotel in the market.
The opening coincided with Atlantic City's 25th anniversary of gaming.
The project is a joint venture agreement between Boyd Gaming and Mirage
Resorts.
DIRECTOR'S AWARD FOR TOURISM
Tommie Sanders, vice president of operations
for HMSHost is the recipient of the Director's
Award for Tourism. HMSHost, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Autogrill S.p.A,
is a world-renowned leader in retail, food and beverage concessions serving
people on the move. Sanders' talents have earned him a 34-year career with
the world's largest provider of travel venue concessions. He currently
oversees all operations on the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway
and Atlantic City Expressway.
" Tourism remains a key industry
sector of our future economic progress," said William D. Watley, CEO
& Secretary of the New Jersey Commerce & Economic Growth Commission.
"Tourism and the quality of life we hold dear are intertwined, and
we will continue to do all we can to promote New Jersey's diversity to
an even larger constituency each and every year."
The Governor's Conference on Tourism
provides an opportunity to highlight successes of the past year while providing
an informative and educational forum for participants to advance their
standing in a growing yet highly competitive industry. Seminars were developed
to help participants discover the latest strategies and trends in the tourism
marketplace. Featured speakers included Governor James E. McGreevey, Commerce
Secretary William D. Watley, Nancy Byrne, Executive Director of Travel
& Tourism and Robert C. Patterson, President of the New Jersey Travel
& Industry Association.
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