Georgia's Visitor Information Centers Win Mercury Award

ATLANTA, August 28, 2007 – The National Council of State Tourism Directors (NCSTD) announced the winners of its 2007 Mercury Awards program recently. The Mercury Award honors the best in state tourism office marketing and promotion programs each year. The Georgia Department of Economic Development's (GDEcD) Visitor Information Centers (VICs) were honored for their Sister Center Network and Hurricane Awareness programs. 'We are thrilled that our Visitor Information Centers were nationally recognized for establishing and implementing innovative programs,' said Charlie Gatlin, GDEcD's Deputy Commissioner for Tourism and Marketing. 'Our information specialists do an outstanding job of making sure the 13 million visitors who pass through our 11 centers get the most out of their visit to Georgia.' The Sister Center Network strengthens partnerships, educates the tourism industry and encourages communication between the state Visitor Information Centers and Regional Visitor Information Center programs. The Sister Center Network motivates and empowers visitor center staff, municipal tourism officials, and volunteers to implement long-term programs for Georgia visitors. The Hurricane Awareness program allows VIC staff to create a network within the tourism industry to provide evacuees and travelers with accurate and timely information in the event a hurricane threatens Georgia or neighboring states. The Georgia Department of Economic Development produced a proactive booklet in cooperation with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA), state and local emergency agencies to formalize a plan of action. This program also offers the opportunity to assist those in need of shelter and accommodate their special needs. Georgia's Visitor Information Centers serve as a gateway to the state and are located on major travel arteries in Augusta, Columbus, Kingsland, Lavonia, Plains, Ringgold, Savannah, Tallapoosa, Valdosta, West Point and Sylvania. Travelers are greeted by information specialists who provide valuable travel information, book hotel rooms and offer directions. The state travel guide, maps, a variety of brochures and other collateral materials are available to those traveling to or through Georgia. The Georgia Visitor Information Centers work closely with the 36 Regional Visitor Information Centers located throughout the state to create a positive first impression of Georgia to our visitors. Created in 1985, the Mercury Awards recognize state and territory tourism offices for excellence and creative accomplishment in travel marketing and promotion. The winning programs serve as models to foster imagination and innovation in the development of future destination programs. Ten states were honored with thirteen separate Mercury Awards. Entries ranged from print and broadcast advertising to niche marketing. NCSTD is an industry council of the Travel Industry Association (TIA). The awards were presented during the August 18 closing ceremony of TIA's annual Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations (ESTO) in Phoenix, Arizona. 'This year's Mercury Awards competition produced a number of standout entries,' said Todd Davidson, CEO of Travel Oregon and NCSTD Chairman. 'The winning entries reflect the depth of innovative and effective programs now being carried out by our industry.' The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state's sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a location for film, video and music projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development. For more information, visit www.exploregeorgia.org or call (404) 962-4075.