Lucy Buffett to emcee tourism awards banquet
August 24, 2009

Celebrity Chef Lucy Buffett and Mobile’s WPMI NBC-15 reporter Darwin Singleton are scheduled to emcee the awards banquet at the 2009 Governor’s Conference on Tourism. The conference will be held at the Marriott Grand Hotel in Point Clear August 29 – September 1. A native of Mobile, Lucy opened her now-famous restaurant Lulu’s in 1999. What was once considered a dive has now become a destination experience for more than 750,000 customers every year. Lulu’s serves more than 1,000 gallons of gumbo and more than 100,000 hamburgers each year. She has made several appearances on NBC’s “Today Show” and the Food Network promoting and preparing recipes from her “Crazy Sista Cooking” cookbook. “I’m honored to emcee this banquet to award the efforts of tourism representatives across the state. Tourism is alive and well in Alabama and at LuLu’s we prosper and grow right along with the rest of the state,” said Buffett. “We welcome everyone, we’ve never met a stranger and treat everyone like family. I believe that’s the secret to Alabama’s success as well. From my restaurant to my cookbook, promoting Alabama is one of my top priorities and I’m proud to be an ambassador.”

Singleton is becoming a fixture on the Gulf Coast with his “Here’s Darwin” reports. He has anchored and reported television news for 28 years and is in his 22nd year of covering news in and around the Mobile-Baldwin County area. “I'm always delighted to talk with people who have visited Alabama's Gulf Coast for the first time. Many tell me they didn't even know Alabama had a coast. When they discover the history and cultural opportunities that we take for granted, well, they usually vow they'll come back. Hey, it was my intention to stay here in Mobile for a couple of years and then move on. That was 22 years ago,” said Singleton. Scheduled speakers for the business sessions include keynote Peter Yesawich, known for his strategic thinking, breakthrough creativity and innovation in marketing practice. Berekely Young of Young Strategies will speak on the latest travel trends, David Stutts and David Griner of Birmingham-based Luckie & Company ad agency will speak on social media and marketing in tough economic times. Tourism and hospitality representatives from across the state will gather for the annual conference for professional development seminars Sunday-Tuesday followed by the black-tie awards banquet on Tuesday evening.

Awards in 13 categories will be presented: Attraction of the Year, Event of the Year, Tourism Employee of the Year, Executive of the Year, Tourism Organization of the Year, Government Advocate and Media Advocate awards, Partnership of the Year, Welcome Center of the Year, the Governor’s Tourism Award and the prestigious Alabama Tourism Hall of Fame award. Two new categories were added for 2009, the Rising Star award will be awarded to a tourism professional who has been working in tourism for two years or less, but has made significant contributions to the industry; and the Theme Campaign award will be presented to an organization that has consistently promoted the “Year of Alabama” theme beyond the initial campaign year.

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2009
 Later school start
  a boost to Alabama economy
 10 Great New Getaways
  in Alabama
 Helen Keller statute
 Golfing on the Gulf Coast
 Fall is perfect time for
  an Alabama adventure
 Beach reports strong
  July tourism numbers
 Lucy Buffett to emcee
  tourism awards banquet
 Gulf State Park announces
  Geocaching activities
 New Pier at
  Gulf State Park opens
 Grand opening
  and ribbon cutting of the new
  Gulf State Park Pier
 Lucy Buffett
  makes appearance
  on the “TODAY” show
 Gulf State Park pier
  opens July 23
 Accuweather.com predicts
  drop in Gulf hurricanes
  for 2009
 Alabama deep sea fishing
  has one of the 10 greatest
  fishing tournaments
 Gulfront condo reservations
 Alabama Gulf Coast trail
  named National Recreation
  Trail for 2009
 Lee Sentell interviewed on
  tourism growth in Alabama
 Tips for planning
  your next beach getaway
 Vacation rentals vs. hotels:
  Which choice provides
  the best vacation experience?
 Alabama beaches
  expecting strong summer
 Five things to do on vacation
  in Orange Beach, Alabama
 Alabama's new
  Gulf State Park Pier
 Governor Riley signs
  Gulf State Park Hotel Bill
 Gulf State Park Resort
  alive in the legislature
 Comparison in tourism growth
 Travel Insurance
  available for Swine Flu
 Travel Guard extends free
  assistance responding
  to Myrtle Beach fire
 Alabama Tourism
  up 3 percent in 2008
 LuLu’s recognized
  for Green Initiatives
 Price Guarantee available
 Grammy award Sugarland
  coming to Orange Beach, Al
 Orange Beach & Gulf Shores
  spring condo rentals
 Pleasure Island
  vacation rentals
 Blue Angels air shows
 A perfect paradise retreat
 Alabama Governor
  signs film bill
 Gulf Shores Pier
  expected to open in May
 Feds: Gulf Shores
  owes from Hurricane Ivan
 Miss Gulf Shores High School
 Spring Break condo rentals
  Orange Beach & Gulf Shores
 The Wall Street Journal:
  Touring the Civil Rights Trail
 Snowbird rentals
  beach front condos available

2008
 Healthy vacation recipes
 Alabama Gulf Coast vacations
 Autumn on the
  Alabama Gulf Coast
 National Shrimp Festival
 Hurricane Gustav update
 Hurricane Gustav
 Gulf Shores Condos
 Tourism carries its weight
 Find cheap airfares online
 Construction begins
  on Gulf State Park pier
 Publix Super Market
  coming to Orange Beach
 Things to look for in
  Orange Beach condo deals
 Pictures of Gulf Shores
 Gulf Shores
  computer repair
 Perdido Key
  attractions for everyone
 Perdido Key rentals
 Orange Beach hotels
 Romance in Orange Beach
 Gulf Shores condos
 Sandy Key Perdido:
  attractions off the sand
 I'm in the news
 Perdido Key
  for the whole family