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Alabama Barbeque Association Wins Partnership Award

Montgomery, Ala. — The Alabama Barbeque Association (ABA) has been named the winner of the tourism department’s 2009 Partnership Award. The black-tie awards ceremony will take place Tuesday, September 1 at the Marriot Grand Hotel in Point Clear.

The ABA was instrumental in making the 2009 Alabama Tourism Bash a success. The Alabama Tourism Bash is the annual tourism industry’s legislative function held in Montgomery sponsored by the ATP, a consortium of state-wide organizations that promote tourism and travel to and within Alabama. Barbecue association members planned the bash with the Alabama Tourism Partnership (ATP) and members prepared ribs, chicken and pork roasts for more than 600 people.

Criteria for the Alabama Tourism Partnership award include outstanding efforts by two or more businesses, organizations, attractions, events, and/or individuals to combine their resources in creative, innovative, and/or cost-effective ways to promote tourism in Alabama; quality and effectiveness of marketing efforts; and enhancement of local, regional or state image as a tourism destination.

Tourism leaders and hospitality representatives throughout the state along with First Lady Patsy Riley will attend the awards banquet. Celebrity Chef Lucy Buffett and WPMI NBC-15 reporter Darwin Singleton will emcee the awards ceremony.

The Tourism Partnership award is among 13 for 2009 that comprise the Alabama Tourism Awards. The awards were first presented in 1998 and honor outstanding achievements in the state’s tourism industry. Each award winner is recognized as a key player in making tourism a strong economic force. Tourism contributed $9.6 billion to Alabama’s economy in 2008; supported 170,000 jobs statewide and an estimated 22 million people visited the state last year.

The Alabama Tourism Department coordinates the awards program. Other winners are as follows:

· Government Advocate Award—Representative Richard Lindsey, 39^th Congressional District.

· Alabama Tourism Hall of Fame—Tony Rayne; founder and past president of Abbeville Chamber of Commerce.

· Media Advocate Award—Raycom Media.

· Governor’s Tourism Award—J. Gary Ellis, President of Compass Marketing, Inc., Gulf Shores.

· Organization of the Year—Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association.

· Attraction of the Year—The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.

· Event of the Year—BayFest, Mobile.

· Tourism Executive of the Year—Michael Gunn, VP of Convention Sales, Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau.

· Tourism Employee of the Year—Jennifer Moore, Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

· Welcome Center of the Year—Sumter Welcome Center.

· *Theme Campaign— Alabama Scenic River Trail.

· *Rising Star Award—Kalleigh Drake, Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce.

*— denotes new award for 2009.

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