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Bill Seratt, president of MDTA and executive director of the Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau, said it took great cooperation from the group.
"We have been very successful in coming together as a group to market the entire Mississippi Delta from Memphis to Vicksburg," he said.
"Our web presence, printed materials and trade show focus are working together to promote a region," Seratt said. "We have had great success in getting the word out about the Mississippi Delta and encouraging visitors to come to our area."
Seratt said marketing the seven communities of the MDTA (Greenville, Greenwood, Tunica, Indianola, Clarksdale, Cleveland and Yazoo City) as one region has paid off.
"From a market the size of Tunica to one the size of Yazoo City, we are all in this thing together," he said. "We are not territorial about county lines. Everybody knows what there is to see and do in the Mississippi Delta."
The Lantern program honors and recognizes outstanding work in the field of public relations by professionals within the region.
SPRF consists of over 1,200 public relations professionals from advertising and public relations agencies, corporations, nonprofit organizations, government, education, industries and others.
Tourism officials are hoping travelers will target the Delta as a destination spot with the Gulf Coast still recovering from Hurricane Katrina.
"You have got to separate an evacuee from a tourist," Seratt said, when asked if Greenville has seen any increase in business. "It made hotel situations a little tight around here.
"During the 45 to 60 days following the hurricane, we probably lost some festival business," he said. "But, we had to take care of our fellow Americans."
One city seeing a boost to its economy is Tunica with many conferences re-locating to one of the many casinos, Seratt said.
"Tunica is really prospering from what happened down there," he said. "They have seen an increase in business due to just having a facility for people to meet."
The group was presented the award at its October board meeting by their advertising agency, Bobby King Associates, Inc. of Tupelo.
Stephanie Moody-Coomer, advertising executive with the company, said she was pleased with MDTA's award.
"We submitted the public relations program as a whole and included everything they are doing," Moody-Coomer said, noting the assortment of brochures, websites, letterheads and media placements that was created.
A look at www.visitthedelta.com shows visitors just how much work went into marketing the Mississippi Delta.
Moody-Coomer commended MDTA for its dedicating in marketing the Delta as a whole.
"They really share the responsibilities," she said. "If Clarksdale goes to a trade show, they will also take MDTA materials to promote the Delta.
"It not only saves money and cuts costs, but it also gives tourists a much broader range of things to do," Moody-Coomer said. "Instead of just one destination, they might spend more time here and spend more money. That would be better for the Delta and for Mississippi."
Moody-Coomer said the Delta is ready to accommodate the needs of tourists who cannot travel to the Gulf Coast.
"People use the coast as a tourist destination for outdoor recreation and gaming," she said. "Tunica, Clarksdale and Greenville all have gaming. The Delta is able to serve as that travel destination."
