Alabama Tourism Award winners
The 2011 Alabama Governor's Conference on Tourism was held July 23-26 at the Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa in Florence. Members of the tourism industry from across the state joined together to discuss the trends and future outlook of the travel industry. The event concluded with the Annual Alabama Tourism Awards which honors outstanding achievements in the state's tourism industry.
The Alabama Tourism Department coordinates the awards program. The 14 winners are as follows:
- Government Advocate Award - Senator Arthur Orr
- Media Advocate Award - Mary Colurso, The Birmingham News
- Organization of the Year - Alabama Mountain Lakes Association
- Attraction of the Year - Barber Motorsports Park & Museum
- Event of the Year- Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama
- Tourism Executive of the Year- Judy Ryals, Huntsville/Madison County CVB
- Tourism Employee of the Year - Ron McConnell, Mobile CVB
- Alabama Tourism Department Employee of the Year - Frances Smiley
- Partnership Award - Tuscaloosa CVB
- Welcome Center of the Year - Cleburne
- Theme Campaign - Alabama State Council on the Arts
- Rising Star Award - Kayla Riggs, Decatur CVB
- Alabama Tourism Hall of Fame - Doug Purcell
- Director's Award - FAME Recording Studios
For more information on each category and the
winners please see the Alabama Tourism
Department press room at
www.alabama.travel/media-room/press-releases/.