Naples Transportation, Tours and Event Planning is proud to announce an impressive eight nominations and two wins at the 2009 Paradise Coast Tourism Star Awards luncheon, hosted by the Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention and Visitors Bureau, in celebration of the seventh annual Collier County Tourism Week.

“As a family-run business, I am proud to have such a great support system, not just with our esteemed winners and nominees, but with our entire staff as well,” commented Randy Smith, Chief Executive Officer.

Selected by a panel of judges comprised of industry colleagues, we are pleased to announce the following winners, along with excerpts from their nomination letter:

Outstanding Attractions Sales Employee
Michelle Castady, Destination Sales Manager
“Michelle earns high marks from peers and clients by always offering a fresh and creative perspective to every project and event.”

Outstanding Attractions Employee – Front Line
Kenny Hill, Everglades Excursions Lead Tour Guide
“Kenny doesn’t have a job, he has a mission to share the beauty of the Everglades and the Paradise Coast with our area visitors.”

NTT&EP also celebrates the following nominations of our valued staff members, without whom our company-wide nomination for Best Strategic Partner would not be possible:

Catherine Cieri, Experience Naples Concierge – Nominated for Approachability
Mimi Gilley, Receptionist – Nominated for Outstanding Attractions Employee, Support Staff
Colleen Giresi, PR & Advertising Sales Manager – Nominated for both Approachability and Hospitality Above & Beyond
Joy Simeonova, Destination Sales Manager – Nominated for Rising Star

Naples Transportation, Tours & Event Planning has returned to its Marco Island roots and launched a brand new Marco Island Trolley Tour on April 1st. This new service will provide residents and visitors a narrated 90 minute, 10 stop tour of the Island with visits to local resorts, businesses and visitor centers.

Beginning at 9:30 a.m. and ending at 5:00 p.m.,the Marco Island Trolley Tour will include stops at the Marco Island Marriott Resort & Spa, Marco Beach Ocean Resort, Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort & Spa, Marriott’s Crystal Shores on Marco Island, Cathy O’Clarke’s Irish Pub, Almost Famous Mel’s, Art League of Marco Island Center for the Arts, Stan’s Idle Hour Restaurant, Old Marco Lodge Crab House, Marco Town Center Mall, Chamber of Commerce and The Esplanade.

Naples Transportation, Tours and Event Planning joins together with leaders from key organizations representing the travel, meetings and event industries to support the Association of Destination Management Executives’ recent statement regarding the federal governments efforts to curtail incentive travel programs, events and meetings:

“Americans expect Congress and the Obama Administration to responsibly and effectively oversee the use of taxpayer dollars to companies receiving emergency government lending. Americans also expect the business community and elected leaders to protect jobs and help the country rebound as quickly as possible from the current economic crisis.

“We are extremely concerned about the unintended consequences of unnecessarily restricting corporate meetings, events and incentive travel programs. Business-related travel generates 2.4 million American jobs, $244 billion in spending and $39 billion in tax revenue at the federal, state and local level. State and local governments rely on this revenue to fund basic government programs such as education, health care and

unemployment insurance.

“At a time when the Department of Labor reports a loss of nearly 200,000 travel related jobs in 2008 and U.S. Commerce Department data predicts a loss of an additional 247,000 travel related jobs in 2009, elected officials and corporate America must take a thoughtful approach to managing the use of taxpayer dollars. Prudent organizations

already have in-place travel and meeting management policies that ensure an effective return on investment for stakeholders. In the coming days, the travel, meetings and events industries will provide the business community with additional standards for meetings, events and incentives that demand transparency and accountability.

“Travelers are an important solution to the economic problems that ail our country. The travel community looks forward to working with America’s elected leaders and businesses to ensure that we keep America moving.”

American Hotel and Lodging Association

Destination Marketing Association International

Meeting Professionals International

National Business Travel Association

Professional Convention Management Association

Society of Incentive Travel Executives (SITE)

U.S. Travel Association

Naples Transportation, Tours and Event Planning has teamed up with Naples-based Phase III Real Estate Services, Inc. to create a one-of-a-kind look at the Naples real estate market. Once a week, guests can sign up to tour beautiful communities throughout Naples from the comforts of a Trolley, while a real estate professional provides valuable information on available properties.

“We’re excited to offer this unique tour to local and potential residents. Our area has a lot of fantastic properties available and this tour is a convenient way to see all that Naples has to offer,” stated Randy Smith, General Manager.

Rather than driving through town on their own from property to property, potential buyers can relax as professionals guide them through a variety of communities every Monday from 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. The Real Estate Tour encompasses over 40 miles and includes timeshares, vacation rentals, new construction, condominiums, assisted living facilities and single family homes. Departing from the Experience Naples Visitor Center, the fee is $25.00 per person and reservations can be made by calling (239) 262-7300.

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