The New Jersey Tourism Industry Association Conference Shines a Spotlight on Innovation

TRENTON, N.J. - Dec. 11, 2023 - PRLog -- New Jersey Tourism Industry Association (NJTIA) is comprised on businesses from every facet in the $44 Billion industry that lifts all corners of the great Garden State. Leaders once again gathered in Atlantic City this past November 30-Dec 1 for its 2023 Conference. This year's focus "Lights, Camera, Tourism" drew inspiration from the booming Film and Television industry that has brought over $600million from on location shooting in the past year.

The conference centered around the Celebrate NJ lunch where NJTIA President Lori Pepenella, CDME addressed hundreds in attendance from seasoned professionals to hospitality students. "Tourism is not just an industry; it is an opportunity. With the right investment and development, it will adapt and resonate with its audience' r

One of the highlights of the event was the prestigious 2023 Tourism Excellence Awards presented by President Pepenella and NJTIA Board Chair Adam Perle. The awards recognize true excellence in providing an exceptional experience that enhances tourism across the state. This year the association received a record number of nominations, which were reviewed and scored by tourism professionals outside of NJ. The award categories were Innovation – Grounds for Sculpture for Night Forms experience, Marketing – Greater Newark Convention and Visitors Bureau for "Welcome to Newark" Campaign, Partnerships- Ocean Resort Casino for outstanding collaboration for property Fifth Birthday celebrations, Public Relations- Meadowlands Live CVB for proposed Sports Complex, and the President's Choice Award – selected from all categories Adventure Aquarium "Make Today an Adventure" marketing campaign.

The conference as presented by generous sponsors that included NJ Division of Travel & Tourism, Journey through Jersey, CRDA, NJPBS, Miles Partnership, Zartico, Lou Hammond Group, Sojern, AAA, ArtPride NJ, Visit AC, The Wildwoods, Aloysius Butler & Clark, Dana, Epsilon, Adara, Visit South Jersey, Hudson County NJ, Meadowlands Live!, NJ Advance Media, Crossroads of the American Revolution, American Dream, Elizabeth DMO, CTM, Greater Newark, Tempest, Simpleview, NJCC, Ocean County Business & Tourism, Axiom, Southern Ocean Chamber Association, shrpa, Forge Apollo, Stockton University, Monmouth County Tourism, Ripe, Somerset County Tourism, Morris County Tourism, Passaic County, Amadeus and Suasion. The Kick off Reception was sponsored by Spark Creative Group. The organization would like to thank the 2023 NJ Conference on Tourism Planning Committee, Judy Ross, Megan Black, Heather Colache, Alex Heimann, Lori Pepenella, Ben Rose, Samantha Rutledge, Christina Goldstein and Michael Snyder. Plans are already underway for the 2024 conference as well as industry events. For more information on New Jersey's only organization whose mission is dedicated completely to the advocacy of the state's tourism industry, please go to njtia.org