The Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority (GWTIDA) has received a 2014 New Jersey Tourism Excellence Award from the New Jersey Travel Industry Association (NJTIA) for its new website design.
The Wildwoods were one of eight recipients of this year’s awards, selected from dozens of entries by a panel of tourism leaders from Maryland, Vermont and Rhode Island. This new judging approach by impartial representatives from out of state adds even more significance to this year’s coveted awards process.
“We are honored to once again be named among the few from our great Garden State to be recognized by the NJTIA for tourism excellence,” said John Siciliano, Executive Director for GWTIDA, “and accept this award with even more gratification, knowing that our efforts were viewed as award-worthy by an impartial panel of fellow tourism professionals from out of state.”
In spring 2013, GWITIDA, along with its website design agency, Suasion Communications Group and marketing agency Signature Communications, collaborated to develop a vibrant new website to best represent the Wildwoods, communicate an upbeat and positive message to potential vacationers; while incorporating user-friendly features and cutting edge tools, along with a plethora of information about the Wildwoods.
Since go-live, the website has seen a steady increase in unique visitors from 967,963 during the period June 2012 to January 2013, to 1,087,896 in the same span the following year. There was also an increase in repeat visitors to 475,690 from June 2013 to January 2014 compared to the previous year’s 220,790 repeat visitors.
The Wildwoods' web presence at www.WildwoodsNJ.com offers an improved interface and fresh experience – reflecting the flavor, fun and appeal of the Wildwoods. With its responsive design, the site is visually pleasing on any size screen, tablet or smartphone – and offers new features and more user-friendly updates, making it a unique web experience for visitors. The website was strategically unveiled in May 2013, just prior to Memorial Day Weekend.
The Wildwoods’ new online presence is a perfect personification of the overall family-friendly Wildwoods experience. The website is information-rich, yet easy to navigate, with an electronic vacation planning guide and information on hotel, motel, bed & breakfast and vacation rental accommodations, dining, FREE beaches, entertainment, nightlife, amusements, boardwalk, shops, attractions and more in the Wildwoods.
For additional information about the Wildwoods, visit www.WildwoodsNJ.com or call 800-992-9732.
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The Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority (GWTIDA) was formed in 1993 to consolidate the tourism economy of its three founding municipalities: Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and North Wildwood. The Wildwoods have won numerous travel and tourism awards, heralding the resort for its beaches, boardwalk and attractions.
The Wildwoods’ Morey’s Piers were named in 2014 among the Top 10 Piers by Coastal Living. In 2013 the Wildwoods were also recognized as one of the Most Awesome Boardwalks in America by BudgetTravel.com; as the Favorite Shore Town by Delaware County Daily Times readers; as the Favorite Beach and Boardwalk by NJ.com readers; the Top Family-Friendly Beach Town by NerdWallet.com; and as One of America’s Top 10 U.S. Tourist Towns by families voting in FamilyFun magazine. They were also named “Best Beaches in New Jersey” in the 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2008 Top Ten New Jersey Beaches public survey, sponsored by the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium. Wildwoods’ beaches were also named “Best Beach for Family Vacations,” “Best Beach for Tourism,” “Best Beach for Events,” “Best Beach for Eco-Tourism” and “Best Beach for Day Trips” in the same surveys. The Wildwoods were named #1 Boardwalk in the nation by FamilyVacationCritic.com in 2012; and Smarter Travel also named the Wildwoods Boardwalk, one of “Americas Best Boardwalks.” The 2012 list of “15 Destinations on the Rise” for TripAdvisor included the Wildwoods, and Home.com voted the Wildwoods one of “Americas Top 10 Scenic Seasides of the Summer.” In addition, the Wildwoods were voted “Best Town” in the 2009 and 2011 PHL-17 Philly Hot List, Jersey Shore Edition contest; and were one of Sherman’s Travel’s “Top Ten American Boardwalks” for two years in a row.
The Tourism Authority operates the Wildwoods Convention Center and acts as the island’s destination marketing organization overseeing the development, research, planning, marketing, advertising, promotion, public and media relations encompassing the tourism, meeting and convention industry in the Wildwoods. Additionally, the Authority funds, assists with and hosts more than 180 annual special events to enhance the visitor experience and extend the tourism season, including the Beach Monster Mash Truck Races, Family Nights On The Boardwalk, Friday Night Fireworks, the New Jersey State Barbeque Championships and Anglesea Blues Festival, Classic Car Shows, the International Kite Festival, Irish and Italian Festivals and the National Marbles Tournament, among others.
For more information about the Wildwoods, contact the GWTIDA at 800-WW-By-Sea (800-992-9732) or visit its web site, www.WildwoodsNJ.com.
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