PHOENIX (July 15, 2011) – Arizona tourism professionals recognized and honored industry leaders at the 2011 Governor’s Conference on Tourism. Arizona Office of Tourism (AOT) Director Sherry Henry, along with AOT Deputy Director Mark Stanton, presented the awards during the Governor’s Awards Luncheon at the Doubletree Paradise Valley Resort. More than 400 tourism industry members from both the private and public sector were in attendance.
The conference, held July 14 – 15, is sponsored by AOT, the Arizona Tourism Alliance, the Arizona Hotel & Lodging Association and the Arizona Restaurant Association.
Nominations for the awards were submitted for nine award categories. Winners were selected on general evaluation of qualifications such as exceptional efforts, innovation, uniqueness and measurable results. The judging committee was comprised of a selection of tourism industry representatives from around the state and AOT staff.
Awards were presented in the following categories: Innovative Promotions, Cooperative Marketing, Special Events (Rural and Urban) Arizona Preservation and Green Tourism.
The winner in Special Events – Rural – was presented to Beverly and Mark LeResche, The Superstition Harley-Davidson Lost Dutchman State Park Observation Run. Mark is also the chair of Friends of Lost Dutchman State Park.