HARRISBURG, PA, May 7, 2008. Governor Edward G. Rendell has inducted the first 18 Pennsylvanians into the Keystone Society for Tourism, the highest honor the commonwealth presents to leaders in the tourism industry.

The Governor bestowed the honor during the first Governor's Conference on Tourism in Gettysburg, which was created to focus on preserving the distinctive character of a community while building economic development through cultural and place-based tourism.

"Small towns do not need to become cities to create a more robust economy. Our quaint farming communities should not lose their rustic nature to attract tourists. And, our urban communities do not need to dilute their strong cultural heritage to share it with others," Governor Rendell said. "This conference has provided practical examples of how tourism has spurred economic development while taking preservation into account." .

The following have been inducted into the Keystone Society for Tourism:
Richard Bryant, executive director, Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, State College
Betsey Howell, executive director, Central Pennsylvania Convention and Visitors Bureau, State College
Scranton Mayor Christopher A. Doherty
Bill and Jane Campbell, Campbell Pottery Store, Cambridge Springs
Dr. Arthur Steffee, RiverStone Farm, Foxburg
Jim and Donna Winner, Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa, Sharon
Dale Fox, The Towers Victorian Inn, Ridgway
Rev. Edward M. Bailey, Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, ChurchTowne of Lancaster
Phoebe Bailey, Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, ChurchTowne of Lancaster
George Hummel and Nancy Rigberg, Home Sweet Homebrew, Philadelphia
Sean O. Strub, Hotel Fauchere, Milford
Richard L. Snyder, Hotel Fauchere, Milford
Doug Gibson and Mary Liskow, Blue Mountain Outfitters Inc., Marysville
Meryl Levitz, president & CEO, Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation

This is the inaugural year for the Keystone Society for Tourism. Inductees were selected by the Pennsylvania Tourism Office in consultation with the Governor's Tourism Partnership. The society honors Pennsylvania visionaries in destination leadership and community development.

"The tourism opportunities in the commonwealth would not be as strong or as diverse without the contributions of these inductees who, through their inspiration, leadership, enterprise, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit, have enriched the experience of visiting the various regions of the commonwealth," Governor Rendell said.

"While it is clear these visionaries have had the foresight and motivation to create new products and tourism opportunities and have done so while creating new family-sustaining jobs in the commonwealth," the Governor said. "They are the keystones of the tourism economy."

Destination Pennsylvania: The Governor's Conference on Tourism was developed by the Pennsylvania Tourism Office and the Office of Community Affairs and Development in association with the Governor's Tourism Partnership and the Team PA Foundation.