2006 Alberta Tourism Awards Announced

October 30, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2006 Alberta Tourism Awards Announced

Winners of the 2006 Alberta Tourism Awards were presented with “Alto” trophies this evening by Alberta Economic Development Minister Clint Dunford at the sixth annual Travel Alberta Industry Conference in Edmonton. With more than 700 participants, the event is the largest tourism industry conference in Canada.

“Tourism is truly one of the most vibrant industries in Alberta, and this year’s Alto finalists showcase the innovative approaches that are contributing to this vital and growing industry,” said Dunford. “We should all be proud of the excellence demonstrated by these tourism winners that contribute to making visiting Alberta such an unforgettable experience.”

The 2006 Alto Ambassador Award, recognizing an exceptional Albertan whose leadership and achievements have a distinctive impact on Alberta’s tourism industry, was presented to Jim Hansen, retired president and chief executive officer of the Alberta Hotel and Lodging Association.

Other 2006 Alto Award winners, as determined independently by a panel of 24 industry judges, are:

Alberta Pride: Rosebud Theatre, Rosebud (Finalists: Edmonton's Capital EX - Northwest Originals; Oil Sands Discovery Centre, Fort McMurray)

Friends of Tourism: Alberta Farmers' Market Association (Finalists: Edmonton and District Historical Society; Prairies to Peaks Tourism Association)

Marketing Excellence (budget up to $25,000): Grande Prairie Regional Tourism Association - Get a Taste of the Grande Prairie Region! (Finalist: Ripley Ridge Retreat, Calgary)

Marketing Excellence (budget more than $25,000): Calgary Zoo - Bringing in the New Year with a Splash! (Finalists: Fort Edmonton Park; Reynolds-Alberta Museum - Life & Times of the Motorcycle, Wetaskiwin)

Marketing Partnership: Grande Prairie Regional Tourism Association - Get a Taste of the Grande Prairie Region! (Finalists: Alberta Community Development - Experience Alberta's History: This Summer Win a Hummer; La Chambre économique de l'Alberta - Boeuf Gourmet AAA de l'Alberta)

Service Excellence: The Sutton Place Hotel, Edmonton (Finalists: Calaway Park, Calgary; The Fairmont Palliser, Calgary)

Sustainable Tourism: Inside Out Experience, Bragg Creek (Finalists: Alberta's Lakeland DMO - Haying in the 30s, St. Paul; The Association for Mountain Parks Protection & Enjoyment (AMPPE), Banff)

Tourism Media: Robin Summerfield, Calgary Herald (Finalists: Katharine Fletcher, Quebec; Chris Koentges, Calgary)

The Alto Awards are supported by the Strategic Tourism Marketing Council and sponsored by: Calgary Airport Authority, Brewster, Alberta Hotel & Lodging Association, Karo Design Calgary, Venture Communications, Parcom Marketing, Via Rail Canada, La Chambre économique de l’Alberta, and Dodd Media Sales.

The Alto Awards Gala is sponsored by CanWest MediaWorks, representing the Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal and Global Television in Edmonton and Calgary.

-30-

Backgrounders on the winners and finalists:

Tell us what you think

2006 Alberta Tourism Awards Announced

2006 Alberta Tourism Awards Announced