The Switzerland County Recreation, Tourism, and Convention Commission has been chosen as the winner of the 2008 Efroymson Award for Excellence in Cultural Tourism Development.
The tourism commission received the award as one of eight finalists, and won for its “A Vision for Switzerland County: The Retail Project”.
The award also brought a check for $25,000 to tourism.
Accepting the award were Switzerland County executive director David Attaway and Angie Satterfield, Vision Project coordinator.
The local project includes new tourism offerings and a plan for redevelopment and promotion of downtown Vevay – all aimed at attracting visitors to the region. The award was presented on Monday, May 5th at the third annual Indiana Cultural Tourism Conference hosted by the Indiana University Department of Tourism, Conventions, and Event Management. The conference was held in French Lick.
Other finalists for the prize included: Firebelly Marketing for the Indianapolis International Film Festival; the Indiana Historical Society for its Indiana History Train; the Indianapolis Museum of Art for its “Roman Art from the Louvre” campaign; the Indianapolis Zoo for its “Dare to Deliver” summer campaign; the Marion/Grant County Convention and Visitors Bureau for Grant County’s Community Box Office; the Stutz Artists Association for its open house; and the Starr-Gennett Foundation for its “Gateway to Indiana’s Musical Heritage”.
“The prize recognizes an organization for a highly creative, professionally executed cultural tourism initiative that met or exceeded results-driven goals,” said Sotiris Hje-Avgoustis, professor at IUPUI and chairperson of the department.