Eleven New Jersey Tourism Organizations Awarded Destination Marketing Grants

Trenton, NJ — (June 3, 2008) — Eleven tourism-related organizations were awarded destination marketing grants totaling over $1.5 million to expand tourism marketing opportunities in New Jersey.

“The Department of State’s Division of Travel and Tourism awards these grants to Destination Marketing Organizations (“DMOs”) to provide critical promotional services in their respective geographic areas as premier tourist destinations. This program is a very exciting collaboration and is paramount to growth and the success of travel and tourism in New Jersey,” said Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells.

Destination Marketing Organizations not only maximize every dollar spent, but also present and highlight a town, city or region’s unique historical, cultural and artistic diversity. DMOs also partner with entertainment venues, restaurants, retail and a wide variety of accommodations for maximum tourism and visitor exposure.

Destination Marketing Organization Grants were awarded to the following organizations:

• Atlantic City Convention and Visitor Authority — $150,000
• Brick City Development Corporation in Newark — $100,000
• Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce — $45,000
• Meadowlands Convention Visitors Bureau — $175,000
• Morris County Visitors Center — $173,750
• Shore Regional Tourism Council — $200,000
• South Jersey Tourism Corporation — $200,000
• Southern Ocean County Chamber — $150,000
• Southern Shore Regional Tourism Council — $200,000
• Trenton Downtown Association (with Greater Mercer Chamber of Commerce) — $75,000

“The Destination Marketing Grant Program is a valuable tool for tourism industry representatives who are committed in their efforts to increase visitation and generate visitor revenues throughout the Garden State," said Nancy Byrne, Executive Director of the NJ Division of Travel and Tourism. “We're pleased the DMO Grant Program has been so successful in providing opportunities to tourism organizations to innovatively promote New Jersey's diverse array of tourism products."

For more information and assistance when planning a trip to the Garden State – including additional itinerary ideas, finding accommodations, and ordering brochures — go to www.visitnj.org.