Governor Bentley Announces State Tourism Department Wins National Award for Barbecue Promotion

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By: Alabama Tourism Department

MONTGOMERY (Governor’s Office) – Governor Robert Bentley on Friday announced the Alabama Tourism Department was honored by the National Council of State Tourism Directors. Alabama received the Mercury Award for the “Year of Alabama Barbecue” marketing campaign. This award is presented for the best targeted marketing promotion in the nation.

The “Year of Alabama Barbecue” promoted the state’s barbecue heritage, award-winning restaurants and talented pit masters.  The campaign included a website, smart phone app, social media promotions, a touring photo exhibit of legendary pit masters, a documentary about the state’s barbecue culture, a 128-page hardcover book and the creation of the Alabama Barbecue Hall of Fame.

“We are proud that the Alabama Tourism Department is once again being recognized for their outstanding work,” Governor Bentley said. “I commend the Tourism Department on continuing to showcase our state in unique ways. Their efforts are making a lasting impression on visitors from not only around the country but also around the world.”

“After doing a social media survey of barbecue fans from across the state, we selected more than 75 restaurants in 52 cities to highlight for this campaign. It generated a great deal of pride and traffic within the state’s barbecue community,” Alabama Director of Tourism Lee Sentell said.

This is the fifth time in the last decade the Alabama Tourism Department has won the top award.  Previous awards went to the “Year of Alabama Food,” the “Year of Alabama Arts,” the “Year of Alabama Small Towns and Downtowns” and the “Year of Alabama Music.” Sentell was also one of three finalists for state tourism director of the year, which was won by Vicki Varela of Utah.

Representatives from the state tourism department accepted the award at the U.S. Travel Association’s Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations (ESTO) conference in Boca Raton, Florida.

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Provided by the Office of the Governor of Alabama | governor.alabama.gov