EDMONTON, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Sept. 25, 2012) - Our city's visitor information centre scored top marks at yesterday evening's Alberta Visitor Information Providers' Ammy Awards for going above and beyond to provide exceptional experience.

Edmonton Tourism's Gateway visitor information centre received a best-in-class award for its industry partnerships, revenue generation and innovation. Edmonton's award submission highlighted its inaugural open house for tourism industry partners, sales of West Edmonton Mall passes, a revitalized gift store, and presentations to tourism industry partners on maximizing tourism tools in their day-to-day services.

"To earn recognition as best in class in the province is an absolute honour," says Cliff Higuchi, interim vice-president of tourism development at Edmonton Economic Development Corporation. "We are proud of our team's work every day telling visitors about Canada's festival city."

Named in honour of Alberta's official gemstone, Ammolite, the Ammy awards recognize outstanding achievements at Alberta's visitor information centres in operations, service, facilities, and individual excellence.

Also receiving top marks was visitor services manager Rob Carstensen, recognized as Alberta's leader in visitor information centre management. Of eight award categories, Edmonton was a finalist in six.

Edmonton's visitor information centre was ranked Alberta's favourite in the 2011 RVwest Magazine's annual reader's choice award. Opened in 1987, Gateway is one of Alberta's busiest, serving more than 50,000 walk-in visitors and 4,000 phone queries annually.

Edmonton Tourism promotes Greater Edmonton as the destination of choice for tourism, conventions, major events and film production and is a division of Edmonton Economic Development Corporation (EEDC). Edmonton Tourism encourages socially and environmentally responsible tourism. For more information, visit www.edmonton.com Learn more about Edmonton through the stories of people who've experienced it at www.edmontonstories.ca.