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•pg_3-13__BMT_pg3-58 2/27/13 6:28 AM Page 8 IN THE NEWS YAZOO COUNTY CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU WINS MISSISSIPPI TOURISM ASSOCIATION'S CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU OF THE YEAR FOR 2012 Late last year, the Mississippi Tourism Association awarded Yazoo County Convention and Visitors Bureau CVB of the Year for CVBs with an annual budget of $250,000 to $500,000. Winning CVB of the Year is no easy feat in this budget category, where most of the active CVBs compete. Tonja Ray-Smith, executive director of the Yazoo County CVB, accepted the award along side Brent Christensen, executive director of Mississippi Development Authority, Rochelle Hicks, executive director of the Mississippi Tourism Association, and Kappi Allen, president of the Mississippi Tourism Association. "It has been a big year for Yazoo County CVB, and the award is a great honor from my tourism colleagues. I am so proud of all the work we have been able to do for Yazoo County" said Tonja Ray-Smith The defining moments of the Yazoo County CVB's victory were: CVB Honors, an awards program that celebrates the key people of Yazoo County's tourism economy; the 40th Anniversary of the Bentonia Blues Festival, an important milestone in the world of blues; and the groundbreaking Fire & Feast BBQ Competition & Festival, designed to make Yazoo County an important stop on the BBQ circuit. The new brand positioning for Yazoo County, "Soak up some Yazoo," gained marketing recognition from Constant Contact. Glenwood Cemetery in Yazoo City, Mississippi won runner-up in Huffington Post's Spookiest Cemetery contest. While This Old House Magazine named Yazoo City's Town Center Historic District as one of its "Best Old House Neighborhoods 2012" for its 19th-and 20th-century examples of Queen Anne cottages, Greek Revival, and Colonial Revival homes. Their on-going diligence with events and community outreach has allowed them to better target their travelers and bring in more groups. The Yazoo County CVB continues to host various groups to their region touring the historic sites and cemeteries. Along with the influx of visitors, Yazoo County unveiled their fifth Mississippi Blues Trail marker dedicated to Tommy McClennan. The Yazoo County area also received great editorial coverage with articles in Southern Living, and Garden & Gun. Yazoo County CVB continues to work hard to build its community and its tourism product, while attracting travelers from around the state and around the world to "Soak up some Yazoo." "We have a great tourism product to sell in Yazoo County and a wonderful team at the CVB office. We are seeing great results from our efforts. We may be far from the largest CVB in the state, but this award says that we are one of the best and hardest working." said Smith. "We are so honored." The Mississippi Tourism Awards are presented at the close of the Annual Governor's Conference on Tourism, hosted this year in Tunica, Mississippi. Pictured her are Smith (holding award), with (l-r) Hicks, Christensen and Allen. WALT DISNEY WORLD MOMS PANEL RENAMED DISNEY PARKS MOMS PANEL 6th Year of Sharing the Magic Brings First-Ever Team Sports Moms and 19 New Panelists Recently, Disney Parks officially gave a new name to the ever-growing Walt Disney World Moms Panel: the Disney Parks Moms Panel. Along with the change in title, the company announced the website's 19 newest members. New for 2013, two Team Sports Moms will join the roster to assist guests with youth sports-related travel to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The Disney Parks Moms Panel, located at www.DisneyParksMomsPanel.com, is an online forum that serves as a resource for planning Disney Parks vacations. Whether guests are looking to kick it on the fields of the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, find the best character dining experience for their family, jog around Disney theme parks with runDisney or discover the cultures of the world with Adventures by Disney, there is a panelist who can share authentic opinions and tips on almost anything and everything Disney Parks. Spanish-speaking visitors can also read and submit questions to a group of dedicated multilingual panelists. "Since launching in 2008, the Disney Parks Moms Panel has answered countless questions from travelers considering a Disney Parks vacation," said Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Operations, U.S. and France. "Known for their sound and practical advice, the panelists continue to be a great resource, helping even more guests make unforgettable Disney memories." 8 B M & T ••• January/February 2013 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com