Jan 31, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   

CONTACTS:  Nancy Hamilton, Lee Rose, Jessica Grace 
                            (239)338-3500

HSMAI recognizes The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel at prestigious destination marketing awards

LEE COUNTY, FL – Inventive destination marketing has earned southwest Florida's Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB) honors from Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Adrian Advertising Competition presented Jan. 29 in New York City.  

The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel received a Bronze Award for the Advertising Image Campaign "Beat the Freeze". Brand related messaging designated the The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel as the best place to reconnect with what's important: nature, friends, family, and yourself. These messages were purchased on coffee cup sleeves in downtown Chicago coffee houses and appeared on elevator TV screens in nearby high-rise office buildings.  Creative headlines included "Below Zero Should Be Your Stress Level, Not The Wind Chill".

Additionally, the VCB was presented with a Bronze Award in the public relations special event category titled "We're taking you out to the ballgame". The Lee County VCB hosted travel journalists and meeting planners from all over New England for an afternoon at Fenway Park for a Boston Red Sox game.

This competition is the largest and most prestigious travel initiative of its kind worldwide.  It recognizes the very best in all segments of the hospitality industry, including destinations, hotels and resorts, airlines, cruise lines, car rental companies, and more.  The 2007 competition attracted 1,200 entries from 36 countries and destinations around the world.

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