The Delaware Tourism Office (Visit Delaware) has received for the first time a coveted Adrian Award, the largest and most prestigious global travel marketing honor.

The award, often described as the Oscar of the travel world, comes to Delaware for the most recent edition of the Official State Travel Guide, which was released in May. Visit Delaware joins tourism offices in major travel markets, including California, North Carolina, Utah, Orlando, Las Vegas, Seattle and more, as recipients of Adrians.

“We are beyond thrilled to receive this award,” said Linda Parkowski, former Delaware Tourism Director (currently Deputy Director of the Delaware Division of Small Business, Development and Tourism). “The guide epitomizes the tourism office’s customer-centric philosophy, which has worked so well to help grow out-of-state visitation and better position Delaware as a preferred travel destination.”

The travel guide was part of the complete realization of a rebranding effort for Visit Delaware launched in 2015. Since then the state has also produced extremely successful television commercials, print advertisements and more. Last summer FutureBrand, an international brand consulting firm, released an independent study showing Delaware has one of the top two most effective statewide tourism brands in the nation.

The guide features inspirational photography, immersive layouts and informational content created based directly on feedback from Delaware’s target tourism audience, as part of the tourism office’s consumer-centric philosophy.

“We have an outstanding tourism office in Delaware and this award is even more evidence of the great work done by that team,” said Sec. Jeff Bullock. “The guide is beautiful, it highlights the best of the state, and it’s a great asset to Delaware’s $3.1 billion tourism industry. Travelers who are better informed will do more, see more and have an even more positive impact on the state economy.”

Free copies of the guide are available at state travel plazas and welcome centers, airports and rest areas around the region and consumer trade shows. The guide is also available online at www.visitdelaware.com/travel-guide.

The Delaware Tourism Office, 99 Kings Highway in Dover, Del., part of the Delaware Division of Small Business, Development & Tourism, promotes tourism and economic growth in Delaware. For more information, visit the official Delaware Tourism website at www.visitdelaware.com or call toll-free (866) 284-7483.

The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) is committed to growing business for hotels and their partners, and is the industry’s leading advocate for intelligent, sustainable hotel revenue growth. The association provides hotel professionals & their partners with tools, insights, and expertise to fuel sales, inspire marketing, and optimize revenue through programs such as HSMAI ROCET, Adrian Awards, and Revenue Optimization Conference. HSMAI is a membership organization comprising more than 7,000 members worldwide, with 40 chapters in the Americas Region. Connect with HSMAI at www.hsmai.org, www.facebook.com/hsmai, www.twitter.com/hsmai and www.youtube.com/hsmai1.

Media Contact:
Michael Chesney
Communications Director
Michael.Chesney@delaware.gov
(302) 943-9508 (cell) (302) 577-8472 (office)

DOVER, Del. – Governor John Carney released the following statement on Thursday, noting the economic benefits of the four-day Firefly Music Festival at The Woodlands of Dover International Speedway.

“Firefly brings tens of thousands of visitors to Delaware from every state and dozens of countries,” said Governor Carney. “Not only does the festival have an impressive annual economic impact on the state, it also provides the opportunity to leave visitors, many of them first-time, with a great impression of Delaware and a desire to explore its endless discoveries beyond The Woodlands. I’m pleased to welcome the artists, vendors and fans. I wish everyone a safe and enjoyable weekend.”

Visit Delaware invites festival attendees to stop by the beach volleyball courts in the Northeast Hub and experience fun statewide attractions during and after Firefly.

With the increase in visitors in and around Dover, residents and visitors are encouraged to use DelDOT’s Smartphone application for up-to-the-minute traffic conditions and to adjust their routes. The DelDOT App is available and can be downloaded free at the Google Play and App Store, search for “DelDOT.” WTMC 1380 AM is also available through the DelDOT App.

Download the free DelDOT app:

App Store: https://goo.gl/OucvFY
Google Play Store: https://goo.gl/dpHCMm

For more information, visit:

Firefly Music Festival’s website at www.fireflyfestival.com
Delaware Tourism’s website at www.visitdelaware.com
DelDOT’s website at www.deldot.gov
Dover International Speedway’s website at www.doverspeedway.com

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Tourism, Parks, La Vida Hospitality Group partner on new beach umbrellas, new Big Chill Beach Club

REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. – Governor John Carney on Tuesday joined the Delaware Tourism Office, Delaware State Parks, and La Vida Hospitality Group to kick off beach season at Delaware Seashore State Park and promote the state’s tourism economy. Delaware’s tourism industry is the state’s fourth largest private employment sector – supporting 42,000 jobs– and contributes more than $3 billion annually to Delaware’s GDP.

The kick off included an unveiling of new beach umbrellas that will be available to rent this summer season. The umbrellas are emblazoned with the Visit Delaware logo and website, as well as the Delaware State Parks’ logo.

In partnership with Delaware State Parks, La Vida Hospitality Group previewed the new Big Chill Beach Club, a full-service restaurant and bar built atop the park’s existing bathhouse. This is one of the largest public-private partnerships and capital investments in state parks history, with an investment of $1 million. The addition to the state park features 360-degree views of the Atlantic Ocean, Indian River Inlet and Indian River Bay from its large rooftop deck. It has a large, beach-themed “umbrella room,” fire pit, game area and more that create a family atmosphere for visitors.

Click here for photos from the event.

“Delaware’s beaches and state parks attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to our state, are key drivers of our $3.1 billion tourism industry and improve the quality of life for all Delawareans,” said Governor Carney. “Through the dedicated and effective work of the Delaware Tourism Office and Delaware State Parks, we continue to position Delaware as a leading vacation destination, and attract even more visitors and growth to our great state.”

“We’ve had so much success with our Endless Discoveries branding since it was introduced in 2015 – including it being ranked one of the top two statewide tourism efforts in the country,” said Linda Parkowski, Delaware Tourism Director. “These umbrellas are a strong addition to the campaign, which also grew with a new travel guide, a new television commercial and new print/online advertising this year.”

“By increasing the park’s visibility and providing new services and conveniences, DNREC’s Delaware State Parks, the Delaware Tourism Office and La Vida Hospitality Group are helping to ensure visitors to the beaches keep returning year after year,” said Department Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “Delaware’s state park beaches are world-class. And the partnerships we celebrate today will help beachgoers experience the extraordinary beauty to be discovered at Delaware Seashore State Park.”

“We are so excited to be opening and providing a new layer of fun to the experience of coming to Delaware Seashore State Park,” said Josh Grapski, managing partner at La Vida, which owns other beach area restaurants, including Fork & Flask at Nage and Crooked Hammock Brewery and provides the food for Lefty’s Alleys and Eats. “This unique venue with its incredible views will be a wonderful amenity for the park.”

“These partnerships are a clear example of why our state parks received the 2015/16 National Gold Medal Award for the best managed park system in the country,” said Ray Bivens, Delaware State Parks Director. “They’re providing innovative experiences for our visitors and showing, once again, how DNREC’s Delaware State Parks keeps its eye on the future.”