The National Council of State Tourism Directors (NCSTD) honored Travel Oregon's International and Domestic Travel Trade with their first Mercury Award: Best State Tourism International Marketing, for the "Summer of Fun in Oregon" campaign.
The "Summer of Fun in Oregon" promotion was designed (in conjunction with E-Home Holidays, a Canadian tour operator) to inspire consumers who would normally travel to Oregon for tax-free shopping to book a new itinerary and discover new experiences. Lisa Itel, Travel Oregon's Travel Trade Manager, The Americas, spearheaded the project.
The total cost of the "Summer of Fun in Oregon" promotion was $4,500 and resulted in a 114-percent increase in visits to Oregon over the previous year, generating approximately $647,136 in direct visitor spending for the State of Oregon.
"We are honored to be recognized for our innovative international marketing," said Teresa O’Neill, Travel Oregon's Director, International Sales and Marketing. "And we succeeded in our goal of luring travelers from Vancouver, B.C. With the program, those who might have visited for tax-free shopping discovered it was easy to find their way to other Oregon treasures."
With its Mercury Awards, the U.S. Travel Association recognizes state and territory tourism offices for excellence and creative accomplishment in travel marketing and promotion. Winning programs serve as models to foster imagination and innovation in the development of future destination programs.
To view tours available from E-Home Holidays, go to: http://www.ehomeholidays.com/