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In This Issue:

Dream Jobs Shining Example Awards Membership Software STS Member News & Accolades Advocacy Updates Welcome New Members to STS

Membership Survey Call for Speakers & Topics Industry Jobs/Member Offers STS Events and Deadlines Top 20 Events for August STS Corporate Partners

Dream Jobs

We work in the best industry - wouldn't you agree? Click on the images to read more about these travel and tourism professionals and how they got their start.

Shining Example Awards

Shine a Spotlight on the Industry's Best and Brightest with an STS Shining Example Award. Deadline to Nominate is Friday, November 1, 2019. DETAILS HERE 2019 Award Categories ESCAPE TO THE SOUTHEAST TRAVEL ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR    TOURISM OFFICE OF THE YEAR (Two Awards) Category 1 Budget < $1Million Category 2 Budget > $1Million STATE TOURISM OFFICE AWARD  GOVERNMENTAL TOURISM LEADERSHIP AWARD  STS TOP 20 EVENT OR FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR BEACON AWARD  RISING STAR AWARD  BEST MARKETING AWARD Category 1 Annual advertising/marketing budget < $100,000 Category 2 Annual advertising/marketing budget of $100,000 - $499,999 Category 3 Annual advertising/marketing budget of $500,000 or more BEST NICHE MARKETING AWARD  PARTNERSHIP AWARD  **NEW CATEGORY** BEST LODGING PARTNER  **NEW CATEGORY** BEST EPICUREAN PARTNER

Membership Software Integration Effective September 30, 2019 STS will be switching to a new association management system. If you have already set-up a user name and password in our current system, your information will stay the same. We will be sending out an email to everyone this month reminding you of what your username and password are or prompting you to create a new one. These login credentials will allow you to access your personal "My STS" page, as well as register for future events. If you should have any questions about the new system please contact our staff and we will be happy to help you.

STS Member News & Accolades

Duane Parrish of South Carolina named State Tourism Director of the Year for 2019 Duane Parrish was announced as the honoree before more than 1,000 destination marketing professionals at the U.S. Travel Association’s annual  Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations  (ESTO) conference, the premier annual gathering for destination and tourism leaders, held this year in Austin, TX. U.S. Travel’s National Council of State Tourism Directors—a body representing the tourism offices of all states and U.S. territories—votes on the award annually ahead of ESTO .

Magi Thomley Williams Honored as Alabama Travel Council Award of Excellence Recipient Alabama Travel Council (ATC) is proud to announce Magi Thomley Williams as the 2019 recipient of the Alabama Travel Council Award of Excellence. Since 1980 the award has recognized the best of the best in Alabama’s tourism industry. Honorees are selected based on proven excellence in leadership and dedication to the advancement of ATC’s mission. Williams will receive the award in a formal presentation during the Alabama Governor’s Conference on Tourism Awards Banquet on Monday, August 19 th in Huntsville, Ala. Williams is Director of Public Relations for Wind Creek Hospitality of Atmore, Ala. She is an active member of ATC where she has served on the Board for five years. ATC President, Patti Culp described Williams’ contributions as essential and important.

2019 ESTO Awards Congrats to the STS Members that received awards from ESTO in Austin, TX last month: Sweet Home Alabama "Best Niche Targeting" Arkansas State Tourism "The People's Choice Award" - Travel Website Bardstown-Nelson County Tourism "Branding Marketing Campaign" Marketing Budget less than $500,000 Travel South USA "Best International Marketing" Virginia Tourism Corporation "Best Industry and Strategic Partnerships" Visit Lexington "Best Public Relations Campaign" Visit Mississippi "Best Special Projects" Visit North Carolina "Find Firsts That Last" Campaign State Marketing Budget more than $10 Million West Virginia Tourism "Best Broadcast Advertising" - Television

Advocacy Update

NPS Announces $12.2 Million in Grants to Preserve African American Civil Rights History List of Southeast States

Welcome New Members

As of September 16, 2019

Big Slate Media Knoxville, Tennessee Brandi Eley Douglasville, Georgia Brandwave Ink Inc. Wilson, North Carolina Charlottesville-Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau Charlottesville, Virginia

Marshall County Convention & Visitors Bureau Guntersville, Alabama Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area Cleveland, Mississippi Museum of Aviation Foundation, Inc. Warner Robins, Georgia South Carolina National Heritage Corridor Belton, South Carolina

THANK YOU THE RESULTS ARE IN... Thank you for taking the time to participate in a Membership Survey performed by Response Marketing Group. We heard you, and are working to implement recommendations from the survey. We appreciate your participation.

Call for Speakers - Share Your Ideas With Us

Do you know a speaker that we should book for 2020? The STS Education Committee is planning for our 2020 events and we want to hear your ideas - whether it be topics or speakers. Do you have a session you would like to present? To be considered, please tell us more about your topic by filling out our online speaker submission form.

Speaker Sign-Up Form

Submit Speaker or Topic Ideas to STS

Industry Jobs/Member Offers

Industry Jobs

Member Offers

Request for Proposals

STS Events and Deadlines

Deadline: October 18 Nominate your Festivals and Events that take place in April, May and June of 2020. Nominate Today

Deadline: November 1 Shine a Spotlight on the Best in the Industry with 2 NEW Categories This Year! Best Lodging Partner and Best Culinary Partner. Nominate Today

November 13-14, 2019 Sandy Springs, Georgia Join us in Georgia for this Group Sales Symposium in November. This event is applicable to any DMO or Attraction, no matter the state they reside in.  Register Today

November 14, 2019 Birmingham, Alabama THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD-OUT. Pineapple Public Relations connects you with top tier media in a key market, in one dynamic event, that is a part trade show and part speed dating.

February 10-12, 2020 Little Rock, Arkansas One Meeting Twelve States Infinite Ideas More Details

Summer 2020 Since its inception in 1992, STS Marketing College® attendees participate in a curriculum designed to teach marketing techniques from all facets of the tourism industry to earn their Travel Marketing Professional (TMP) Certification. More Details

June 22 - 24, 2020  The STS Congressional Summit on Travel & Tourism is advocacy in action. More Voices = More Impact.

Top 20 Events

Top 20 Events Nominate Your Event

Ocmulgee Indian Celebration September 21 - 22 Macon, GA

Crush Wine & Food Festival September 25 - September 29 Huntsville, AL

STS Corporate Partners

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Do you have STS Member News? Please email your text and photo to Wendy Thomas by the 15th of each month for inclusion in the next STS Member Newsletter.

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