Greenbrier County CVB Kicks Off National Travel & Tourism Week with Reception

Lewisburg, WV (May 3, 2013) - The Greenbrier County Convention and Visitors Bureau kicked off National Travel & Tourism Week with an awards reception on Thursday, May 2nd. Winners from the inaugural "Best of the Greenbrier Valley" contest were announced, along with the CVB staff's award for the "Friend of Tourism."

The "Best of the Greenbrier Valley" contest was a competition which ran April 8th through April 28th that invited the public to cast a vote for their favorite Greenbrier Valley attraction, lodging property, retail shop, restaurant and event.

"We are thrilled that nearly 1,000 people cast a vote in the contest," said Kara Dense. "Votes were cast from 32 states. I think that's a testament to the Greenbrier Valley's popularity across the country."

The winners were:

Best Attraction
Winner: The Greenbrier
Runner Up: Carnegie Hall

Best Lodging Property
Winner: The Greenbrier
Runner Up: The Historic General Lewis Inn

Best Restaurant
Winner: Food & Friends
Runner Up: Stardust Café

Best Retail Shop
Winner: Harmony Ridge Gallery
Runners Up (Tie): Aggie's, Something Sweet, Something Country and Wolf Creek Gallery

Best Event
Winner: Taste of Our Towns
Runner Up: State Fair of West Virginia

Additionally, the Friend of Tourism Award was presented by the CVB staff to Jeff Bray and John Pearson for bringing the 2012 National Speleological Society's Annual Convention to the Greenbrier Valley. The convention welcomed more than 1,500 attendees to the area in late June 2012.

"The tourism industry is a significant contributor to the Greenbrier Valley economy," said Dense. "As we look to begin another travel season, we thank not just the Best of the Greenbrier Valley winners, but all of our tourism businesses who make the Greenbrier Valley the destination that it is today."

National Travel and Tourism Week is annually designated by Congress to show the impact that tourism makes on the economy. In the Greenbrier Valley, 1.3 million visitors are welcomed annually, making an economic impact of more than $181 million. The Greenbrier Valley is the second most visited region in the state.

For questions or additional information, please contact the CVB at 304-645-1000.

About the Greenbrier County Convention & Visitors Bureau:
The CVB's mission is to strive each day to positively impact the area's economy by marketing the region as a premier tourist destination. The Greenbrier Valley is the second most visited region in the state with 1.3 million visitors annually making an economic impact of more than $181 million.

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