MEDIA RELEASE

Writers from all over the United States gathered April 17-24 to sample the vast variety of attractions Tennessee has to offer. The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development was host to travel writers in efforts to promote and increase tourism within the state. This year's tour was the "Rhythm and Country in the Delta Region" and concentrated on the Memphis and surrounding West Tennessee area highlighting the "Mighty" Mississippi and the scenic Tennessee River's beautiful Kentucky Lake.

Those attending were offered a variety of "tracks" to follow, with golf, fishing, historical sites, and more. The collective group of approximately 100 gathered for an introductory reception, then dispersed to the smaller "track groups." The organized tours visited over fifty attractions during the time period.

Two separate "track groups" visited the Tennessee River Freshwater Pearl Museum, Farm, Tour, and Jewelry Showroom, Camden, Tuesday, April 20. They had an entire day of "show and tell" based on the information from the Benton County area industry of diving, shell exports, and pearl farming, as well as learning all about freshwater pearl history, and a bit of pearl culturing techniques. The writers met pearl farm manager, Don Nerren; witnessed a sample harvest and watched him "shuck" a mussel to reveal one of the official state gems. A live diver displayed his "catch of the day" and offered a brief biology lesson regarding how the mussels fit into the unique aquacultural environment of the Tennessee River waters.

"A Pearl of a Tour" took the writers to Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park's Tennessee River Folklife Museum, then back to the embayment of Birdsong Creek. The group enjoyed a catered meal in the lakeside pavilion overlooking the pearl farm of pulled BBQ, BBQ ribs, grilled chicken and all the fixings. "I think they had a great time. More than one commented to me that we were the highlight of their tour and I take that as a highly-rated compliment considering the stature of the other stops included in their tour," stated Kristi Halsey, Marketing Director for the Tennessee River Freshwater Museum, Farm, Tour and Jewelry Showroom. "We have a unique story to share, and we strive to give all groups our undivided, southern-hospitality style attention."

Participating in the event were magazine, newspaper, syndicated writers and freelance writers from Missouri, California, North Carolina, Louisiana, Georgia, New York, Florida, Maryland, and Arkansas. Press members present write for a vast variety of publications, including such names as Scripps Howard News Service, Knight Ridder Newspapers, Copy News Service, USA Today, Dallas Morning News, Chicago Tribune, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The Boston Herald, St. Louis Times, Grand Rapids Press, FabulousTravel.com, Memphis Commercial Appeal, Frommer's Travel Guides, Dallas Morning News, Travel Weekly, AAA Going Places, Los Angeles Times, Baltimore Sun, Travel Weekly, AAA Horizons, AAA Traveler, AAA Journeys, and others.

Chosen locations for the tour included Graceland, the National Civil Rights Museum, Beale Street, Gibson Guitar Factory, Smithsonian's Rock n' Soul Museum, the Peabody, Pickwick Landing State Resort Park, Ames Plantation, the home of Buford Pusser, Shiloh National Military Park, Fort Donelson National Military Park, Birdsong Trail Ride, Land Between the Lakes, Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park, Casey Jones Village, the Trenton Teapot Museum, the home of Alex Haley, the St. Louis Depot and Railroad Museum, the Tennessee River Freshwater Pearl Museum, Farm, Tour and Jewelry Showroom, and many others.

Tennessee Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Susan Whitaker stated, "Demographic studies show that editorial pieces followed by advertisement to be the most effective method of marketing. This creates a repetitive method of impression that the consumer will notice due to recognition from the previous informational editorial content. We have chosen to reconstruct the strategies for the Department of Tourism's ongoing campaign promoting tourism to the natural beauty of our state."

"The press tour is only one facet of the many new vehicles that will be powering this campaign. Celebrity commercials have already been airing on prime time television promoting the variety of tourist attractions within Tennessee. The newly-announced tourism campaign 'The Stage is set for you' was launched April 7 at a Nashville luncheon with over 350 tourism industry representatives present. It was an honor to be present to witness the onset of this new era of promotions. Governor Phil Bredesen; Lt. Governor and Speaker of the Senate John S. Wilder; Speaker of the House of Representatives Jimmy Naifeh and State of Tennessee Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Susan Whitaker; officially unveiled the new Tennessee Tourism theme with an exciting plan of action," said Benton County attraction owner Bob Keast. Keast is the owner of Birdsong Resort, Marina and Campground a 58-acre recreational complex located in the heart of the scenic Tennessee River's beautiful Kentucky Lake; as well as the Tennessee River Freshwater Pearl Museum, Farm, Tour and Jewelry Showroom. Keast continued, "Promoting the tourism of Benton County is my first love. An attraction including my own - is nothing without visitors. A person studying and understanding how to generate the tourist traffic, then implementing the plan, requires continuous efforts. I appreciate the cooperation I get when partnering with the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development to promote our county and our state."

The Tennessee River Freshwater Pearl Farm is the only freshwater pearl culturing operation in the North American continent and sees over 300,000 visitors annually. The freshwater pearl is the official gemstone for the State of Tennessee, and only grows in the embayment of Birdsong Creek at Birdsong Resort, Marina and Campground in Camden, TN. For more information about "A Pearl of a Tour" or the Tennessee Freshwater Pearl Museum, Farm and Jewelry Showroom, visit www.TennesseeRiverPearls.com or call 800-225-7469.