TripSmarter.Com Wins International Recognition
PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL — Tourist Network Interactive, an award-winning New Media agency, today announced that it has been awarded Outstanding Achievement in Website Development by the Interactive Media Award™ for its work on the TripSmarter.com Travel Website. The honor, granted by the Interactive Media Council, Inc., recognizes that the website met and surpassed the basic standards of excellence that comprise the web’s most professional work. The site was honored specifically for excellence in Travel/Tourism.
The judging consisted of various criteria, including design, usability, innovation in technical features, standards compliance and content. In order to win this award level, the site had to meet strict guidelines in each area — an achievement only a small fraction of sites in the IMA competition earn each year.
Tourist
Network Interactive, an award-winning New Media agency, announced
that it has been awarded Outstanding Achievement in Website Development
by the Interactive Media Awards™ for its work on the TripSmarter.Com
Travel Website. 
Steve Nichols, Director of New Media at Tourist Network Interactive, said, "We were extremely honored to receive this year’s IMA for Travel & Tourism. We've always pushed ourselves to exceed expectations on every level of web development. It feels great to have our work on TripSmarter.Com recognized by experts from the media and marketing industries."
Judges for the 2007 Interactive Media Awards™ include representatives from American Express, CBS Radio, CNN Money, Deutsche Bank, The History Channel, Microsoft, Comedy Central, New Line Cinema, The New York Times, Ogilvy & Mather, Time Inc., Time Warner Inc., Verizon Business, Cadbury Schweppes and others.
IMA winners have the distinct and prestigious
honor of being recognized as among the “best of the web,” excelling
in design, usability, innovation, standards compliance and content.
Winners are also considered to be sites that rise above their competition
and stand out as the top choice for their target market.
Among the features that help TripSmarter.Com distinguish itself from other travel
sites are live streaming broadcasts and on-demand videos from the Tourist Network
TV stations, which consist of original television programming aimed at travelers.
These information-packed programs include entertaining tips and advice for
visitors planning their trip, local news, weather and events, restaurant reviews,
nightlife shows and much more.
TripSmarter.Com’s live and on-demand video content is delivered via
Adobe® Flash® format, which is considered to be the highest quality
and most ubiquitous format available online. In fact, TripSmarter.Com was the
first website to broadcast live television stations 24/7 in Adobe Flash format,
an accomplishment that has garnered recognition and accolades from industry
professionals around the world.
Other features unique to TripSmarter.Com include live streaming web cams from
all over the Southeast, member reviews of hotels, restaurants and other businesses,
detailed event calendars, original editorial and travel articles, local history
and culture, custom maps, and an active Travel Community where members share
travel stories, photos, videos, advice, questions and restaurant reviews with
other travelers.
TripSmarter.Com also provides standard online travel services, such as hotel
price comparisons, hotel reservations, airline ticket purchasing, rental car
reservations, weather information and more.
TripSmarter.Com’s many features are
presented in a highly intuitive design, combined with innovative functionality
that helps visitors find the information they’re searching for.
This convenience, along with a multitude of entertaining and useful
content, converts many first-time guests into repeat visitors and loyal
TripSmarter.Com Members.
About Tourist Network Interactive:
Founded in 1997, Tourist Network Interactive is an award-winning New
Media agency that provides relevant, useful and entertaining travel
information through its online presence, TripSmarter.Com. TNI also provides
New Media services for a collection of clients throughout the Southeast,
including restaurants, retail businesses, financial institutions, nightclubs,
real estate companies and more. For more information, please visit: http://www.touristnetworkinteractive.com.
About the Interactive Media Awards:
The Interactive Media Awards recognize the highest standards of excellence
in website design and development and honor individuals and organizations
for their outstanding achievement. Sponsored by the Interactive Media
Council, Inc., a nonprofit organization of leading web designers, developers,
programmers, advertisers and other web-related professionals, the competition
seeks to elevate the standards of excellence on the Internet. For more
information visit: http://www.interactivemediaawards.com. 
