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Tourism Excellence Awards Presented
At 2007 Governor's Conference On Tourism
Atlantic City—Awards for Tourism Excellence were presented to 10 organizations during the 2007 Governor’s Conference on Tourism Awards Luncheon at the Trump Hotel Plaza in Atlantic City.
“This year’s winners exemplify excellence and should be commended for their continued hard work and dedication in promoting the industry in every corner of the state,” said Nancy Byrne, Executive Director of the New Jersey Office of Travel & Tourism. “We are proud to honor these organizations and individuals who contributed to making the 2006 tourism year a successful venture."
The Governor’s Excellence in Tourism winners include:
- Sussex County Chamber of Commerce in Newton for their implementation of the brand name “Sussex Skylands,” which established the Skylands Region while identifying it as a destination. This successful branding effort has allowed local tourism entities to unite under the umbrella of “Sussex Skylands” to attract more visitors and their tourist dollars to this thriving region.
- Valley Shepherd Creamery in Long Valley for recognition of its ongoing commitment to the agri-tourism industry. This working farm enjoys a new multi-million dollar facility built on 120 acres and combines old-world dairying and cheese making. The facility operates a viewing gallery, retail shop and offers guided tour to visitors. The Creamery’s 12-year agri-tourism program is committed to the belief that an obligation to tourism means providing healthy products and quality of life to all residents and visitors.
- Somerset County Business Partnership in Somerville for the production of a series of six brochures of tourism-related organizations in the County. The project fostered vital partnerships and offered much needed funding and marketing collateral for non-profit tourism destinations. Organizations showcased in the project included: the Old Millstone Forge Museum, the Fleetwood Camera Museum, the Abraham Staats House/Battle of Bound Brook, the Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route in NJ (W3R-NJ), the Tour of Somerville Cycling Series and Visit Somerset Count - Revolution, Roses & Recreation.
- Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson for the Bugs Bunny National Park and Plaza del Carnaval, a Mexican themed area featuring the great wooden coaster, El Toro. Celebrating its 45th anniversary, Six Flags contributes substantially to New Jersey’s economy, increasing tourism expenditures, creating thousands of jobs and also gives back thousands of dollars to the community.
- Adventure Aquarium in Camden for their six new exciting programs that join the already popular “Swimming with the Sharks” experience. For the ultimate up-close wildlife experience, participants literally get their feet wet in the new line-up of aquarium adventures. The programs enable visitors to spend time with seals, feed ancient sea turtles, help hippos get ready for bed or feed porcupines in the “Secrets of Africa” experience, luring more visitors into the world of the prized animals of the African exhibit.
- South Jersey Tourism Corporation in Camden for the “Walt Whitman & His Invincible City” program. In celebration of Whitman’s unique place in history, the tour was the first major effort by tourism officials to draw visitors to other attractions along the Delaware River while successfully increasing tourism expenditures. Tours are now offered once a month as a result of the success of the program.
- Battleship New Jersey in Camden for their Overnight Encampment Program. From scouts to families, locals to worldwide travelers, this unique interactive experience gives visitors a feel for what life was like as a battleship sailor onboard the U.S.S. New Jersey. With over 100,000 campers since opening in 2001, the Battleship New Jersey showcases how a non-profit museum can collaborate with historical, social and local organizations to create a program that attracts visitors to the Camden Waterfront.
- Manasquan Tourism Commission in Manasquan for the 75th Anniversary Lighted & Decorated Boat Parade. The Commission, in conjunction with the boroughs of Manasquan, Brielle, Point Pleasant & Point Pleasant Beach, collaborated to create an unforgettable boat parade for visitors and residents to enjoy. Thousands turned out for the boat parade that commemorated the channel’s opening in 1931.
- Show Place Ice Cream Parlour in Beach Haven for enhancing the unique summer experience at the Jersey Shore. Show Place’s bubbling cabaret atmosphere creates a fun environment, where a talented wait staff of singing and dancing performers serve America’s favorite treat. Ranked as one of the top ten Ice Cream Parlours in the country, Show Place’s amusing wait staff have served and entertained over a million customers since 1975.
- New Jersey Audubon Society in Cape May Court House for the Meadowlands and More “Birding & Wildlife Trails” program and for the valuable, lasting partnerships it has forged. The publication synergizes the efforts of the Society, the NJ Meadowlands Commission, the Hackensack Riverkeeper and the Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce/Meadowlands Liberty Convention & Visitors Bureau. Through a beautifully produced, 72-page spiral bound guidebook, it is clear that eco-tourism is becoming a viable sector of not only New Jersey’s tourism economy, but the global economy as well.
Tourism Executive Director Nancy Byrne presented the Director’s Award to The Salt Creek Grille in Rumson and Princeton for its philanthropic initiatives. Each year, Salt Creek Grille selects a local charity to be the beneficiary of a year-round fundraiser led by Restaurant. In three years, Salt Creek Grille has raised over $150,000 for local charities.
The Governor’s Conference on Tourism is a joint venture hosted by the New Jersey Commerce, Economic Growth & Tourism Commission’s Office of Travel & Tourism and the New Jersey Travel Industry Association. Major sponsors of this year's conference include: Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority, NJ Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, Atlantic City Electric, HMSHost, Six Flags Great Adventure, Wild Safari & Hurricane Harbor, The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, CTM Brochure Display, Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority, Monmouth Park/Meadowlands Racetracks, The Richard Stockton College of NJ and The Pier at Caesars.
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