Excellence in Tourism Awards

2013 Excellence in Tourism Award Recipients

The 2013 awards were presented Wednesday, February 27 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Please select this link (Adobe PDF format) to read a press release summarizing the conference and awards.

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Roger Carmack, Executive Director of Great Rivers Country

Best in Show

• Hiltons of Chicago
  

Best Leisure Collateral

• Williamson County Fishing Guide, submitted by the Williamson County Tourism Bureau

Best Sales Collateral

• The Park at Rosemont Direct Mail, submitted by Davis Harrison Dion

Best Electronic Marketing

• Chicago‟s First Lady Promotional Video, submitted by Davis Harrison Dion

Best Social Media Marketing

• Magnificent Mile Social Media Efforts, submitted by The Greater North Michigan Avenue Association

Best Media/Public Relations Initiative

• Chillcation, submitted by Hiltons of Chicago

Best Cooperative Partnership

• Trail of Terror, submitted by Galena County Convention and Visitors Bureau

Best Branding Initiative

• Midwest Morel Fest, submitted by the Ottawa Visitors Center

Best Website

• Division A: Chillcation, submitted by Hiltons of Chicago
• Division B: VisitGalena.org, submitted by VisitGalena.org

Best Visitors Publication

• Division A: 2012 ILLINOISouth Visitors Guide, submitted by Tourism Bureau ILLINOISouth
• Division B: Great Rivers Country Eagle Watching Sites Brochure, submitted by Great Rivers Country

Best Event or Festival

• Division A: East Peoria Festival of Lights, submitted by Peoria Area CVB and Rick‟s Picks: A Lifelong Affair with Guitars and Music, submitted by Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Division B: History Comes Alive, submitted by Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalitions

Best Tourism Marketing Campaign

• Division A: The BMO Harris Bank Magnificent Mile Lights Festival, submitted by The Greater North Michigan Avenue Association
• Division B: Champaign County as a Destination, submitted by Champaign County Convention and Visitors Bureau

Lincoln Award Recipients

New this year was the “Lincoln Awards,” which were inspired by Steven Spielberg‟s award-winning film, Lincoln. The awards honored the behind the scenes stars‟ who go above and beyond for the Illinois tourism industry. Award winners included:

Best Supporting Actress - Lumi Bekteshi, Head waitress, The Palm‟s Grill, Atlanta

Best Supporting Actor - Tazewell County Resource Centers, Travel Guide Fulfillment Center

Best Actor - Robert Minge, Tourist Information Center Travel Counselor, Cumberland Road

Best Actress - Mary Twomey, Director of Sales and Marketing for Chicago‟s Essex Inn

Best Picture - Rick Nielsen, Rick‟s Picks: A Lifelong Affair with Guitars & Musician