Louisiana Office of Tourism Assistant Secretary Kyle Edmiston Honored For Big Tourism Gains

BATON ROUGE, La. – The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) has named Louisiana Office of Tourism Assistant Secretary Kyle Edmiston as one of the organization’s 2017 Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Hospitality Sales, Marketing, Revenue Optimization. The prestigious award is given annually to honor the top 25 achievers in sales, marketing, and revenue optimization of hospitality, travel and tourism organizations for their accomplishments in the preceding 18 months. To be named to the Top 25 list confirms that a hospitality sales and marketing professional has shown great leadership and performed at a high level in the industry.

“For years, I have known Kyle is truly one of the top tourism marketing professionals in the country. We have benefited from his tireless efforts to put Louisiana in the hearts and minds of millions of travelers year after year. This honor is well deserved,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser.

“I am humbled and honored to be named a Top 25 Extraordinary Mind by HSMAI. This honor is possible because of the many passionate tourism professionals across Louisiana that make sure a visit to our state is filled with unique culinary, musical and cultural experiences you simply cannot find anywhere else. I share this honor with each and every one of them,” said Assistant Secretary Kyle Edmiston.

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In his role as Assistant Secretary, Edmiston oversees the Louisiana Office of Tourism’s promotion and marketing of Louisiana as a desired travel destination to domestic and international visitors. Under Edmiston’s oversight, Louisiana has seen record-breaking numbers each year for visitation, spending, and tax revenue generated for the state. Since 2012, the number of visitors to Louisiana has grown to 46.7 million in 2016. During that same time, visitor spending increased from $10.1 billion to $16.8 billion and annual tax revenue generated for Louisiana increased from $719 million to $1.04 billion.

Edmiston was instrumental in bringing a renewed focus on the international traveler, leading to an increase of 36 percent in international visitation in 2015, the second-highest of any state. Additionally, Edmiston worked tirelessly to bring the U.S. Travel Association’s premier travel marketplace, IPW, to New Orleans in 2016. As part of the events for IPW, he worked with CVBs and travel partners around the state to coordinate seven familiarization trips for tour operators and media reaching every corner of Louisiana.

Under Edmiston’s leadership, the Louisiana Office of Tourism received 11 national awards including:

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  • 2016 State Tourism Office of the Year – Southeast Tourism Society
  • 2016 Gold Adrian Award in Digital Marketing Excellence for Destination Recipe Video Series – HSMAI
  • 2016 Mercury Award for Best Travel Website – National Council of State Tourism Directors & U.S. Travel Association
  • 2016 Mercury Award for Best Social Media Campaign – National Council of State Tourism Directors & U.S. Travel Association
  • 2016 Mercury Award for Judges’ Choice for Best Overall Campaign for Destination Recipe Video Series – National Council of State Tourism Directors & U.S. Travel Association
  • 2016 American Advertising Award for Judges’ Choice Digital Marketing for Louisiana Libations – adFed Suncoast
  • 2015 Mercury Award for Print Advertising – National Council of State Tourism Directors & U.S. Travel Association
  • 2014 Bronze Adrian Award in Digital Marketing for Louisiana Brewery Trail Video – HSMAI
  • 2013 Silver Adrian Award in Digital Marketing Excellence for Louisiana Tourism – Discover America SEM Campaign – HSMAI
  • 2013 Silver Adrian Award in Digital Marketing Excellence for Louisiana Travel Social Media – HSMAI
  • 2013 State Tourism Office of the Year – Southeast Tourism Society     

On a national level, Edmiston is the immediate past chairman for Travel South USA’s board of directors and serves on the board of directors for Brand USA and the Southeast Tourism Society. He also serves on U.S. Travel Association’s board of directors executive committee.

In August, the U.S. Travel Association named Edmiston the 2017 State Tourism Director of the Year during the annual Education Seminar for Tourism Organizations (ESTO) conference in Minneapolis.

HSMAI will honor The HSMAI Top 25 in conjunction with the Adrian Awards Dinner Reception and Gala on February 20, 2018, at the New York Marriott Marquis.

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For more information, visit www.louisianatravel.com.

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