Garrett County Wins at 29th Annual Maryland Tourism & Travel Summit

The Garrett County Chamber of Commerce won the 2009 Best Electronic Marketing Award from the Maryland Tourism Council at the 29th Annual Maryland Tourism and Travel Summit, formerly the Governor’s Tourism Industry Conference, held in Ocean City last week. Competing against nominees from other counties in the state, Garrett County collected the tourism industry award for the WTAE-TV Advertising Campaign at the annual Awards Banquet held on November 5.

“The Chamber is honored to have received this award recognizing our WTAE-TV advertising campaign,” said Joyce Bishoff, Interim President of the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce. “It is particularly gratifying to be recognized by our tourism industry peers at the Maryland Tourism Council.”

In 2008, The Garrett County Chamber of Commerce provided its 700+ member businesses with the opportunity to purchase cooperative television advertising with Pittsburgh’s WTAE-TV. Footage was shot from 2008 – 2009 and the commercials ran on Pittsburgh’s WTAE this year in May & June and September & October. Additional commercials will run again this December & January. Advertisers for this schedule included The Lodges at Sunset Village, Pine Lodge Steakhouse, Smiley’s Pizzeria & Fun Zone, Wisp Resort, Bill’s Marine Service, Bill’s Outdoor Center, Long & Foster Resort Rentals, Railey Mountain Lake Vacations, Railey Realty, Arrowhead Market, Honi Honi, Uno Chicago Grill, Hugh Umbel Companies: Bear Creek Traders, Deep Creek Foodland Fresh, Legacy Home Corp, Market Square & McHenry Plaza, McHenry Beverage Shoppe, Perkins Restaurant, Pleasant Valley Dream Rides, Susquehanna Bank and Lakeside Creamery.

The Best Electronic Marketing Award recognizes Maryland Tourism Council members with the most strategic and innovative electronic marketing initiative to attract visitors. Nominees included websites, e-mail marketing campaigns, online promotions, radio and television advertising. Winners are determined by a panel of judges composed of past recipients of the Maryland Tourism Council’s Tourism Person of the Year award.

For more information about the Maryland Tourism Council and the annual Maryland Tourism & Travel Summit, visit mdtourism.org. For more information about the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce, please call 301.387.4386 or stop by www.visitdeepcreek.com.