Woo Hoo Economic Development Corporation!

NEWS RELEASE

SAULT STE. MARIE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

************************* SSMEDC picks up national marketing award SAULT STE. MARIE, ON - (October 7) – The Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation (SSMEDC) earned national recognition this week when it took home a 2011 Marketing Canada Award from the Economic Developers Association of Canada. The website for Tourism Sault Ste. Marie, a division of the SSMEDC, was awarded first prize in the Digital Media – Tourism Website category.

The new site, available at www.saulttourism.com, features a number of unique attributes, including an online reservation and vacation package booking system – the first of its kind in Northern Ontario – and incorporates interactive features like Sault Ste. Marie and regional Facebook pages. “We consider our website and other online tools to be fundamental in the way we communicate with visitors and potential visitors from around the world,” said Tom Dodds, CEO of the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation. “In today’s ultra-competitive tourism sector, you have to go above and beyond to stand out. Our Tourism Sault Ste. Marie website is one tool we use to stay ahead of the curve.” The award was announced at the National Conference for the Economic Developers Association of Canada on October 3 in Peterborough, Ont.

More than 100 entries in various categories were submitted for the 2011 Marketing Canada Awards. “We’re especially proud that our Northern Ontario city stood out amongst communities across the country,” said Ian McMillan, Executive Director of the SSMEDC’s Tourism Sault Ste. Marie division. “Our area is Naturally Gifted, and we wanted our website to compliment the beauty of the region.” The Tourism Sault Ste. Marie website was designed by Lucidia Ltd., an award-winning, Sault-based marketing and communications firm.

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