The Travel Industry of America (TIA) said that the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) has made history by winning three of eight 2006 Odyssey Awards: the Domestic SeeAmerica Marketing Award; the Publicity and Promotion Award; and The Tourism Economic Award. Never before has an organization won multiple Odyssey Awards in the same year. This year`s competition was open to destinations, attractions, hospitality and
transportation (airlines, cruise lines, etc.) companies from all over the world.

TIA`s Odyssey Awards, the premier recognition program for the $646 billion U.S. travel and tourism industry, rewards the very best organizations in the travel industry for attaining new levels of excellence. According to TIA, the Odyssey Awards are bestowed upon those that have demonstrated originality, creativity and effectiveness combined with notable, measurable results for the previous year. GPTMC President and CEO Meryl Levitz will accept the awards on October 12, 2006, at the TIA Marketing Outlook Forum.

Other 2006 Odyssey Award winners are the Pennsylvania Tourism Office, Vegas.com, Travel Oregon, the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau and the U.S. Tourism Promotion Program.