Tops in Tourism

Travel Montana’s Web Program Receives National Award

Helena – June 5, 2002- Georgia Tech University’s Tourism and Regional Assistance Centers (TRACS) presented the Montana Department of Commerce’s Travel Montana web program with a “Best Practices in Tourism” award for its excellence in web marketing.

“Travel Montana is a best practice selection in web marketing because of its extensive privacy and confidentiality statement on its web site,” explained Dr. Rich Harrill, Senior Business Associate at Georgia Tech University’s Tourism and Regional Assistance Centers. “The agency is also a leader in web marketing because it has created several "niche" sites in addition to its main site, visitmt.com. These niche sites include Lewis and Clark and a children's site. ”

“Travel Montana’s electronic marketing department has strived to be innovative and develop websites that provide our visitors with the information they need to choose Montana as their travel destination. We are proud that our efforts have been recognized,” said Corrie Hahn, Travel Montana’s Electronic Marketing Manager.

The web program will be profiled in the first edition of TRACS’ best-practices guidebook due out this fall. The guide geared to tourism-related agencies, industries, and organizations will bridge gaps in information and improve methods to expand the worldwide tourism industry. TRACS’ primary goal is to provide innovative economic development assistance focused on tourism.

Travel Montana websites hosted a record number 2.7 million visitors in 2001. This is a 12% increase from 2000.

TRACS also gave “Best Practice in Tourism” awards in the areas of research, funding, professional development, information dissemination, and tourism advocacy.

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