(photo credit:Cody Eason)
MOBILE – Dr. Lawrence J. Pijeaux, Jr. of Birmingham was inducted into the Alabama Tourism Hall of Fame at the Alabama Governor’s Conference on Tourism awards presentation Monday night in Mobile.
Dr. Pijeaux retired in May after serving for 20 years as the President and CEO of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.
Twelve other state tourism industry awards were presented by the Alabama Tourism Department at the conference being held at the Renaissance Battle House Hotel.
The new GulfQuest National Maritime Museum in Mobile was named as the 2016 Attraction of the Year. This will be the first museum dedicated to the Gulf Coast’s rich maritime traditions and only the third interactive maritime museum in the world when it opens in September.
Gulf Shores-Orange Beach Tourism has had several record setting years in marketing the state’s top tourism destination and was named the Tourism Organization of the Year.
Heiko Einfeld received the Tourism Executive of the Year award for his longstanding leadership role in the state’s tourism industry and his continued commitment to excellence as executive director of the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce.
Selma Mayor George P. Evans was presented with the Government Advocate award for his leadership in the 50th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery March.
JoJo Terry of the Alabama Tourism Department received the Employee of the Year award for her work as digital marketing director and regional director for the Gulf Coast area.
Award-winning journalist and humorist Kelly Kazek from Madison received the Media Award for her weekly Odd Travels feature for AL.com.
The Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau’s #iHeartHsv campaign was presented with the Alabama Themed Campaign award for its success in using social media to raise destination awareness.
The Monroeville Chamber of Commerce received the Director’s Award for its work in organizing the Monroeville launch of Harper Lee’s book “Go Set A Watchman.”
The Coastal Alabama Partnership accepted the Tourism Partnership Award for its continuing work in bringing regional leaders together to advocate for the coastal area’s top priorities.
The Governor’s Tourism Award was presented to the Marshall County Convention and Visitors Bureau’s “Majestic 3” marketing campaign. “Majestic 3” highlights the best assets of the three state parks located in the county: Lake Guntersville, Cathedral Caverns and Bucks Pocket State Park.
Boomdays Heritage Celebration in Fort Payne was acknowledged as the Event of the Year. Boomdays started 10 years ago and has grown into a leading music, arts and heritage event.
Carmen Bishop with the Dothan Area Convention and Visitors Bureau received the Rising Star Award for her work in rebranding and promoting the Dothan area.
