(Pembroke, Ontario) - The Ottawa Valley Tourist Association (OVTA) is the proud winner of the Ontario Economic Development Award in the "Technology" category for their new database-driven dynamic website - www.OttawaValley.travel.

The Ontario Economic Development Awards, which were handed out on February 4, 2010 at the Toronto Marriot Eaton Centre Hotel, recognizes winners and honourable mentions for their efforts in promoting communities for location and tourism opportunities. Economic development initiatives are also judged as part of the process.

"This year, over 130 entries were judged," explains 2009 Economic Development Council of Ontario (EDCO) President Lauren Miller. "The annual competition allows local communities to see just how they stack up against other municipalities when it comes to promoting location, investment and tourism opportunities."

The OVTA website was designed by Blue North Studios of Renfrew. It's layout is simple, yet attractive and easy to navigate. Visitors to the website are able to search for tourism operators, activities and accommodations by location with ease. The website also boasts an in-depth calendar of events and is available in over 10 languages using the Google Translate function.

"The new OVTA website is a driving force for tourism in the Ottawa Valley," explains Mitch Wilkie, Manager of the OVTA. "We've had over 200,000 visits to the website since it's official launch in July 2009. The website allows our members to create and manage their own individual listings, which is an invaluable bonus of OVTA membership. This most recent award highlights the progressive, competitive and effective marketing strategies of the OVTA."