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CONTACTS:    Nancy Hamilton, Lee Rose (941) 338-3500

Southwest Florida’s Lee Island Coast Wins Prestigious Platinum HSMAI Award

February 1, 2002    

            LEE ISLAND COAST, FL – Fresh, innovative approaches to destination Web sites and other promotional materials have earned the Lee Island Coast Visitor and Convention Bureau (VCB) the highest awards from the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Adrian Advertising, Golden Bell Public Relations, and Golden Click Web Awards Competition presented Jan. 29 in New York City.

            The HSMAI International Competition is the largest and most prestigious travel event of its kind worldwide.  The 2001 competition attracted more than 1,500 entries from 45 countries and destinations from around the globe.

With the esteemed Platinum Award, www.LeeIslandCoast.com has been recognized as the best city/county convention or tourist bureau Web site in the world.

The Platinum Award is a major recognition of excellence for the VCB, with its Web site being chosen above all others, including country, state, and destination Web sites.

            “Competition is extremely stiff,” said D.T. Minich, C.D.M.E., VCB executive director.  “For our bureau to be recognized as the best worldwide is an accomplishment we should all be proud of, including our partners in this endeavor, BVK Advertising and Miles Media.”    

            In addition to easy and instant access of detailed information about accommodations, attractions, travel reservations, and discount opportunities, www.LeeIslandCoast.com allows consumers the advantage of customizing and

personalizing their vacation plans.  With over 300 accommodations and attractions from which to choose, visitors can create, download, and even e-mail custom itineraries, while a Reservation Services section offers links to book airline travel and car rentals.  The site portrays the tropical paradise atmosphere of the Lee Island Coast, and features video clip viewing, special events and activities listings, electronic postcard delivery, and much more.

            Additionally, the VCB won a Gold Adrian Advertising Award for its advertising campaign without co-op partners and a Silver Adrian Advertising Award for its advertising campaign with co-op partners.

The VCB captured a Silver Adrian Advertising Award for its Visitor’s Guide. Created in the image of an upscale travel magazine, minus the advertisements, the principal feature that distinguishes the Lee Island Coast Visitor’s Guide from those of other destinations is the editorial  -- full-length articles revealing the objective opinions and personal, first-hand experiences of professional travel and photo journalists who have visited the area.

Furthermore, the VCB Web site’s “Media Central” portion, an online press room for travel journalists, garnered a Silver Golden Bell Award

            Established in 1927, HSMAI is the largest international association of hospitality sales and marketing professionals.  The competition honors the best in hospitality and travel advertising, marketing materials, and public relations.

            In HSMAI’s past two annual competitions, the VCB received a Bronze Adrian Award in the Web site category, a Silver Golden Bell Award for the Lee Island Coast press kit, and a Golden Bell Gold Award for the “Inside Travel & Tourism” TV news segment . 

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Lee Island Coast is located on the Gulf of Mexico in southwest Florida and includes Sanibel/Captiva/Pine islands, Fort Myers Beach, historic Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs and Estero, North Fort Myers, Boca Grande, and Lehigh Acres.