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Pictured front row, from left, Lisa Anders, Explore Gwinnett; Jennifer Grimmer, Gilmer Chamber President and CEO; Caitlin Neal, Gilmer Chamber Communications Director; Natalie Knight, Gilmer Chamber Events Director. Back row, Ron Cheslock, Pick Ellijay Tourism Director; Jay Markwalter, Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus’ Executive Director.
Pick Ellijay, a division of the Gilmer Chamber, won the Paul Broun Award for Marketing Initiatives at the Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus’ Annual Conference held in Albany.
The award was presented at the GACVB “Denim and Diamonds” Gala at Chehaw Zoo.
This award recognizes the efforts of Pick Ellijay in reintroducing travelers to Ellijay and the surrounding area through a new website, a new tourism magazine, inclusive photography and videography and an integrated approach to multimedia marketing.
The Paul Broun Award is given annually to honor the contributions of Paul Broun to tourism in Georgia. Broun was a former Georgia state senator and tourism advocate. He was a leader in the tourism industry whose dedication to the industry was instrumental in the development of the Georgia tourism industry. The award is given to recognize those who continue to promote and support the growth of tourism in the state.
“I am incredibly proud of our team for the statewide recognition we received tonight,” said Jennifer Grimmer, president and CEO of the Gilmer Chamber. “We have been intentional and strategic about the ways we promote Ellijay as an agritourism destination, and it is encouraging that our industry recognizes our efforts.”
Pick Ellijay was founded with the main objective of inviting travelers seeking outdoor adventure, agricultural experiences, and the beauty and culture of the Southern Appalachians. Through a series of marketing initiatives, Pick Ellijay has been successful in connecting travelers to the unique experiences offered in Ellijay, East Ellijay and Gilmer County.