The Web sites for the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau, and OfficialTravelGuide.com each won an Official Honoree award as part of the 10th Annual Webby Awards. This means that they scored in the top 20 percent out of a record number of more than 5,500 entries from all 50 states and more than 40 countries.

Hailed as the �online Oscars� by Time Magazine, The Webby Awards are determined by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences, a global organization with a membership that includes musician David Bowie, Internet inventor Vinton Cerf, Naked Chef Jamie Oliver, The Body Shop president Anita Roddick, �Simpsons� creator Matt Groening, Real Networks CEO Rob Glaser, and fashion designer Max Azria.

�The Webby Awards honors the outstanding Web sites that are setting the standards for the Internet,� said Tiffany Shlain, founder and ambassador of The Webby Awards. �USDM.net�s three Official Honoree selections are a testament to the skill, ingenuity, and vision of the creators.�

�USDM.net (www.usdm.net) is pleased to have our clients� Web sites honored again this year by the Webby Awards and the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences,� said Leah Woolford, founder and CEO of USDM.net.

�Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) is very pleased to have our travel portal (www.atlanta.net) recognized again this year by the Webby Awards,� said Spurgeon Richardson, president and CEO of Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau. �This international honor further underscores the ongoing excellence of our interactive marketing and e-commerce program directed by USDM.net.�

�According to a survey at the end of last year, an estimated 57 percent of the Atlanta.net Web site visitors subsequently visited Atlanta in 2005 and reported spending almost $1.8 billion during their stay on lodging, dining, shopping, entertainment and transportation,� Richardson said.

�OfficialTravelGuide.com is the official travel portal of the Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI), the world�s largest association of convention and visitor bureaus (CVBs), serving more than 1,300 members in over 600 destination marketing organizations in 30+ countries,� said Michael D. Gehrisch, President & CEO.

�We are very pleased to see our Web site recognized with this international honor from the Webby Awards, because travelers from all over the world access this site for tourism information direct from the destination�s best source,� Gehrisch said.

Sponsors and Partners of The Webby Awards include: AOL; The Creative Group; Verizon; Adweek, Brandweek and Mediaweek magazines; Fortune; OnRequest Images; IDG; iStockphoto; American Marketing Association; PricewaterhouseCoopers; 2advanced Studios; MX Interactive and Museum of the Moving Image. For more information visit www.webbyawards.com.

About USDM.net®
Since its inception in 1993, USDM.net�s deep travel industry experience, innovative Internet marketing tactics, and adaptive technology solutions have propelled it to become the leading interactive agency for the travel industry, endorsed by the Travel Industry Association of America, Destination Marketing Association International, and the Southeast Tourism Society. Incorporated as U.S. Destination Marketing Inc., and headquartered in Corpus Christi, Texas, USDM.net® (www.usdm.net) provides comprehensive Internet strategy, planning and turnkey Internet marketing and web design and technology services to more than 155 Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) and other hotel, hospitality, and tourism organizations. USDM.net® owns and manages www.OfficialTravelGuide.com, the travel portal of more than 1,250 destinations worldwide. For more information about this survey or to participate future surveys, contact Jeff Woolford, Director of Research at (361) 653-2377 or by email at jwoolford@usdm.net.

About the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS)
The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences is dedicated to the creative, technical, and professional progress of the Internet and interactive media. The Academy is an intellectually diverse organization that includes over 500 members consisting of leading experts in a diverse range of fields, such as musician David Bowie, Internet inventor Vinton Cerf, Naked Chef Jamie Oliver, The Body Shop president Anita Roddick, fashion designer Max Azria, �Simpsons� creator Matt Groening and Real Networks CEO Rob Glaser. The Webby Awards and The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences are registered trademarks of International Data Group. For more information, visit www.iadas.net.
|
Media Contact:
Sara Zavala
Edelman for USDM.net
404�460�1499
|