On April 24, at the U.S. Virgin Islands ADDY Awards Ceremony on St. Thomas, VInow.com received three ADDY awards in the online category. VInow.com is a travel guide for the U.S. Virgin Islands. In addition to covering where to stay and what to do, it engages prospective visitors with a daily podcast called “Podcast from Paradise” and an on-line TV show called “Colors of Paradise TV.” VInow.com was presented with the Gold ADDY Award for a “Colors of Paradise TV” episode “Hike to Honeymoon Beach;” and the Silver ADDY Award for its coverage of the U.S. Virgin Islands Quarter Release Ceremony.
A Gold ADDY Award was received for the “Podcast from Paradise” episode “Just How Cold Is It?” “Colors of Paradise TV,” launched in July 2009, is an online TV show hosted by Africah Harrigan that focuses on promoting local beaches, attractions and events. The show has quickly gained in popularity. Ansen Sligar, an owner of VInow.com, said, “We’ve had viewers write to us to say how much they enjoy the show, and others have said they were planning their visit around a local event we covered. It’s exciting to hear those types of comments.”
“Podcast from Paradise” gives listeners an opportunity to stay connected with the territory. Coming from the studios of WSTA on St. Thomas, host Alex Randall gives a daily dose of the USVI with a weather report, local news and island music. He is unashamed to report the high temperatures of the day with lines like "It’s 81 in St. Thomas, but with the wind chill, it feels like only 80." His tongue in cheek humor keeps listeners entertained and tuning in on a daily basis. “We are continuously adding new sections and features to VInow.com to keep it fresh and current,” said Sligar. “Video on the internet and podcasts are very popular right now, and they are a great way to bring the U.S. Virgin Islands to the online community worldwide. We are thrilled that our creativity and hard work has been recognized by the ADDY award judges.”
The ADDY awards are sponsored by the American Advertising Federation and are the industry’s most comprehensive and prestigious competition, recognizing creative excellence in numerous media categories. You can watch “Colors of Paradise TV” at: vinow.com/tv and “Podcast from Paradise” at: vinow.com/podcast.
Click to find list of Addy Award winners.
