Contact: Michele Peters
651-757-1862
Michele.peters@state.mn.us

Use of video on the Web wins TIA’s Mercury Award

BONITA SPRINGS, FLORIDA (September 10, 2008) Explore Minnesota Tourism has received the National Council of State Tourism Directors (NCSTD) 2008 Mercury Award for film/audio visual for its My Favorite Minnesota™ videos, which are posted on exploreminnesota.com/myfavoriteminnesota. The NCSTD is an industry council of the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA). The awards were presented during the closing ceremony of TIA’s annual Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations.

These videos are part of the My Favorite Minnesota™ campaign, which is based on insider advice from those who have traveled in Minnesota. Utilizing the campaign theme of "Who knows more about having fun in Minnesota than Minnesotans?" travelers are invited to share their favorite places to go and things to do in Minnesota by creating lists at www.exploreminnesota.com, the state’s official travel Web site.

"It is truly an honor to be recognized with this award," said Explore Minnesota Tourism Director John Edman. "We were seeking to be innovative in the ways in which we inform travelers about all the opportunities there are for travel in Minnesota. This is the fourth Mercury Award Minnesota has received in the last five years. It is gratifying for our team to be recognized by our peers for excellence in state tourism marketing."

About Explore Minnesota Tourism
As the state’s tourism office, Explore Minnesota Tourism pursues an entrepreneurial approach, leveraging the state’s tourism investment with increased involvement by the private sector. A council of representatives from the state’s tourism industry strongly connects Explore Minnesota Tourism with tourism businesses and organizations.

Tourism is a $10.5 billion industry in Minnesota, a key sector of the state’s economy. The leisure and hospitality industry, a major provider of tourism services, employs over 244,000 Minnesotans. More information can be found at industry.exploreminnesota.com/research.

About the Mercury Awards
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. The awards comprise eleven categories and entries range from print and broadcast advertising to niche marketing.

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