Recipient of the Texas Destination Marketing Certificates Announced - August 27, 2010

(PORT ARANSAS) – The Texas Association of Convention & Visitor Bureaus (TACVB) has announced that Melissa Sanford, Executive Director of the Nacogdoches Convention & Visitors Bureau is a recipient of the Texas Destination Marketing Certificate program to reward excellence in the convention & visitor bureau industry. Melissa received her certificate in marketing. She joins other industry professionals who will be receiving certificates in this fourth year of the program. Melissa has already received certificates in Group Servicing and Administration/Finance.

The Texas Destination Marketing Certificate program offers industry professionals an educational framework for marketing Texas as a destination for both tourism and group business. The program includes eight areas of knowledge, including Texas Heritage/Cultural Tourism, Administration/Finance, Communications/Technology, Group Sales, Group Servicing, Marketing, Tourism Sales, and Visitor Services. Once an area of knowledge is achieved with 27 credits completed, the professional will receive a certificate of completion. To achieve TDM designation, program participants must complete six of the eight areas of knowledge. The program is administered by the staff and Board of Directors of TACVB, with assistance from an advisory committee who oversees the development of the program and the progress of the participants.

“These individuals have achieved a significant level of success in a particular aspect of the tourism industry and we wanted to reward that success,” said TACVB Chair, Charlie McIlvain, CTA, Granbury CVB. He continues: “We are proud as an organization of tourism professionals to reward this hard work and dedication as it strengthens the professional status of CVB staff.”

The Texas Destination Marketing Certificates were presented at the TACVB Annual Conference in Lubbock, Texas on August 12, 2010 during the TDM Awards Luncheon.

For more information about the program or award recipients, please contact Bridgette Snyder or visit the organization’s web site at www.tacvb.org.