Corinth honored at conference on Tourism

Several local events and individuals were honored at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism held at the Bancorp South Arena Conference Center in Tupelo on Tuesday. Governor Haley Barbour kicked off the awards luncheon addressing the recent impact tourism has made on the state.

Kristy White and Steve Knight holding their award

Kristy White and Steve Knight won the award for Best Mississippi Travel Broadcast Media. Kristy and Steve co-host a radio show called “Let’s Talk Tourism” broadcasting on SuperTalk Mississippi radio station WZRX. “Let’s Talk Tourism”, reaches over 800,000 listeners in Mississippi, West Alabama and West Tennessee. The show promotes tourism-related events and activities around Corinth.

Pictured from left to right - Zack Steen, Susanne Cooper, Melissa Carson, Lisa Green, Karen Beth Martin and Brandy Steen (not pictured - Tommy Ledbetter and Lynn Barnwell)

The Green Market at the Corinth Depot won Best Mississippi Small Event or Festival. The Green Market at the Corinth Depot is held each month and gives local farmers, gardeners, craftsman, artisans and other talented individuals the ability to sell their wares locally. The Green Market helps encourage citizens to buy within the community and stimulate the local economy. The Green Market planning committee includes chairperson Karen Beth Martin, Lisa Green, Susanne Cooper, Zack Steen, Brandy Steen, Tommy Ledbetter, Melissa Carson and Lynn Barnwel

Zack Steen showing off his award for tourism volunteer of the year

Zack Steen won the Mississippi Tourism Volunteer of the Year award. Zack is on several local committees including the Green Market at the Corinth Depot, the Arts and Culture Committee, Crossroads Chili Cook-Off Committee, Corinth Home and Garden Tour and is a member of the Corinth Kiwanis Club. Zack serves as a primary volunteer at many other events held in Corinth each year. In 2009, Zack won the Corinth Visitor’s Bureau Volunteer of the Year for his dedication and hard work. He was also chosen as the grand prize winner of the Mississippi Tourism Photo Contest for two local photos that he submitted. His photos can be seen throughout the 2010 Official Mississippi Visitors Guide.

Pictured from left to right - Ann Thompson, Kristy White, Ada Brinker and Karen Beth Martin

The Corinth Visitor’s Bureau received the award for the Best Mississippi Visitor’s Bureau with a budget of less than $500,000. The CVB had several successful events in 2009 including the Crossroads Chili Festival, the Green Market at the Corinth Depot, and the Grand Illumination. Each event attracted over 2,000 visitors to the city. The CVB was also successful at launching a new passport program. The CVB gave visitors a passport card with five local attractions that they had to go to to get a stamp. When the card was completed it was returned to the CVB for a prize and a entry into a cash drawing each month.

Tags: corinth tourism, Corinth Visitor's Bureau, green market, Kristy White, Steve Knight, Zack Steen