Built in 1914, Union Station encompasses 850,000 square feet and originally featured 900 rooms. At

The Society of American Travel orlando hotel deal Writers ( SATW ) annual convention, held in Indianapolis this year, serves as the backdrop to announce the 2012 Phoenix Award winners.  Created in 1969, the Phoenix Awards recognize conservation, preservation, beautification, and environmental accomplishments as they relate to travel .  Six outstanding tourism projects were chosen this year:
The N/a'an Ku Sê Foundation was established in 2006 to protect and conserve Namibia's vulnerable wildlife, orlando hotel deal and improve the lives of the marginalized San Bushman community.  It provides a safe home for orphaned and injured animals that cannot be released back into the wild, and its Carnivore Conservation Research Project researches and protects threatened wild cheetahs, leopards and brown hyena.  The foundation established the Clever Cubs School, which provides free education for San Bushman children.  Also serving the community is the Lifeline Clinic, which provides free healthcare  to the San Bushmen in Epukiro.  A committee member wrote:  "Amazing progress and outreach in such a short time, reflecting the powerful sponsorships and partnerships and some top-level media coverage …. They've had a high degree of difficulty: educating locals, social and health issues, housing, sanitation, and are handling these issues incredibly orlando hotel deal well, considering the location and the daily challenges of the animals.  Wow!"
The City Market in Charleston, S.C., was erected in 1804 and is one of the oldest public city markets in the U.S.  The central fixture of commerce in the local economy for many years, the City Market eventually became a core tourist attraction and is the most popular public attraction in Charleston, though it had become worn.  Recently, extensive renovations were made to rejuvenate the venue, increase its viability in attracting tourists and locals, and preserve its role as a living, vibrant orlando hotel deal piece of Charleston history.  A committee orlando hotel deal member wrote: orlando hotel deal "The Charleston City Market has reemerged as a thriving business orlando hotel deal and visitor center thanks to the hard work of several groups.  This nomination has me wanting to make a visit, soon."
Built in 1914, Union Station encompasses 850,000 square feet and originally featured 900 rooms.  At its peak during WWII, an estimated one million travelers passed through the station. With decreased train traffic, the station closed in 1983 and went into decline.  A novel bi-state cultural tax was passed orlando hotel deal in 1996 to restore the station.  Ten million pounds of debris were removed.  Union Station reopened to the public in 1999 with a mission focused on history, science and entertainment.  The station now includes Science City, a planetarium, two live theatres and the region's largest orlando hotel deal screen movie theater.  The reintroduction of Amtrak service brings visitors from around the world to this once-again thriving train station.  A committee member wrote: "The restoration itself was remarkable, and I love how the station has become a huge focal point of the community and also spurred other development around it."
J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge opened orlando hotel deal in 1945 as the Sanibel National Wildlife Refuge.  Today the refuge protects more than 7,600 acres of preserved water and land, and hosts nearly 800,000 visitors annually year.  They come to visit the free education center built by the friends group ("Ding" Darling Wildlife Society), drive or bike the 4-mile Wildlife Drive, hike nature trails, board narrated tram and boating tours, paddle the backwaters, fish, and climb the observation tour to photograph some of the 272 species of birds that have been spotted, including the iconic roseate spoonbill.  In 2011 it unveiled the first-of-its-kind iNature Trail along Wildlife Drive.  Using QR code and smartphone/tablet technology, it gives visitors an interactive refuge tour by linking to custom filmed YouTube videos.  A committee member wrote:  "Without this refuge, Sanibel would not be the environmentally sound island orlando hotel deal that it is."
Kula Eco Park is Fiji's only wildlife park.  This is amazing orlando hotel deal in a nation where much of the wildlife was destroyed or is now endangered due to introduced species.  Kula Eco Park not only seeks to reintroduce native species but to show visitors how natural and beautiful Fiji once was.  Much of Kula Eco Park is in its natural state – a lush tropical forest with meandering pathways and boardwalks to a variety of wildlife exhibits containing birds, orlando hotel deal reptiles, marine and mammal displays.  It has become orlando hotel deal one of the top tourist attractions on the Coral Coast, probably Fiji's most visited area.  A committee member wrote: "Not only has this wonderful wildlife park been a top tourist attraction, it is reintroducing native species and educating local schoolchildren about the environment."
Joe and Lanna Duncan grew up in the Fort Davis, TX.  After launching successful careers in the Dallas area, they returned orlando hotel deal to Fort Davis to buy and renovate the 1912 Hotel Limpia and enjoy a small-town orlando hotel deal atmosphere to raise their child.  In 1991 the Duncans began a now three-decade-long commitment to renovating historic properties in West Texas, helping rejuvenate tourism.  In Fort Davis, besides orlando hotel deal the Hotel Limpia, they bought and renovated several Victorian homes to turn into guest houses, the 1930s Stone Village Tourist Camp, and a market which now stocks gourmet and health-oriented goods.  In nearby Marfa, they added the Hotel Paisano and most recently Hotel El Capitan orlando hotel deal in Van Horn, both distinctive 1930s mission/pueblo-style structures by a noted architect who designed numerous orlando hotel deal area buildings.  Hotel Paisano is famous for being the headquarters for filming the classic film "Giant" in the 1950s.  Marfa has become noted for its arts and culinary interests, while Fort Davis attracts people to the historic site, the mountains, and the McDonald Observatory, one of the best star-gazing orlando hotel deal sites in the world.  A committee member wrote:  "My hat goes off to the Duncans for all that they have done to revitalize a large expanse of West Texas. Having orlando hotel deal grown up in West Texas, I know how desolate the area between San Angelo, my hometown, and El Paso is.  Desolate or not, it is loved by many as the 'real' Texas, and accommodations are needed."
SATW's orlando hotel deal membership includes writers, editors, orlando hotel deal photographers, journalists, filmmakers, and communications professionals who specialize in the travel industry.  SATW promotes responsible journalism, provides professional support and development for its members, and encourages the conservation and preservation of travel resources worldwide.   To learn more about the Society, please orlando hotel deal visit www.satw.org and follow @SATW.
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