by Victor Radulescu, President PressTour (FIJET-Romania)

Bucharest (March 24, 2010) – Top Journalists, broadcasters, photographers and tourism professionals were honored by the Tourism Press Club (TourPress, FIJET-Romania) with the SPLEDENS Award during a gala ceremony at the Bucharest Radisson BLU Hotel.

The inaugural presentation of the custom crafted trophy recognized excellence in categories that included Travel media, Daily newspapers, Radio, Press Agencies, Magazines / Tourist Litureature, film and photography. Also honored were tourism professionals and members of the FIJET Executive Committee.

The "Splendens" trophy is awarded annually to media representatives and public figures involved in the promotion and development of Romanian tourism destinations.

The evening started with a slice of jazz with the vocal renderings of Irina Sarbu, Puiu Pascu - piano, Ciprian Parghel - bass, Alin Constantiu - clarinet and Bogdan Parghel – drums, in what is described as jazz with influence from Romanian traditional music. On the hall’s screens guests watched a film of the Romanian-trip of FIJET's Board (Federation Internationale des Journalistes et Ecrivains du Tourisme), in May, 2009. The visit – which took members of FIJET’s Board to many attractions in the country – was recognized by the awarding of three "Golden Apple" trophies, FIJET’s highest award of excellence.

When Elena Udrea (the Regional Development and Tourism Minister) arrived, the MC opened the gala with the tourism national hymn "The Land of Choice" and a film of the "Golden Apple" awards ceremony.

Victor Radulescu, president of TourPress (FIJET-Romania) Elena Udrea and FIJET President, Tijani Haddad welcomed the many guests and honorees. FIJET awarded a special diploma to Minister Elena Udrea and Jacques Camp, FIJET General Secretary, presented the articles published by journalists who visited Romania, edited by FIJET in a booklet.

Minister Elena Udrea and Victor Radulescu awarded the Splendens trophies. In addition to winners in various categories, two special trophies were awared: "Man of the Year" went to Gheorghe Fodoreanu, Invitation Romania President, and Tijani Haddad was honored for outstanding promotion of Romania as a tourist destination.

SPLENDENS Award Winners

Travel Media Category 

Television - Ruxandra Tuchel and Georges Boisnard, “Restoration” campaign coordinators; Radio - Ioana Popa, Voice of Bessarabia Radio; Daily newspapers- Teodora Trandafir, Evenimentul Zilei; Press Agencies / Internet - Georgiana Leanca, acasa.ro; Magazines / tourist literature - Mihai Ogrinji, Romania Pitoreasca, and Photography / Film - Radu Sigheti - Reuters Romania photographer.

Tourism Industry Category 

Hotels Industry - Yildirimlar Yilmaz, Bucharest Radisson BLU director. Within this category Radu Enache, president of the Continental Hotels chain, and Ion Lazar, owner of Fronius Hotel, Sighisoara, received excellence diplomas. Travel – Lucia Morariu, Eximtur President, for holiday tickets and domestic tourism promotion, and Alin Burcea, Paralela 45 President, the most dynamic travel agency; Restaurants - PHd. Ion Pusca, owner of the House Dr. Pusca, in Faclia, for the promotion of Romania's image through wines; Transportation - Florentina Ivan and George Racaru from Blue Air, the airline with the most dynamic development in Europe; Vocational Training / Spa - Razvan Pirjol, THR, and Rural Tourism - Aurel Pau - Sibiel 2000 Association.

The awards gala ended with three Splendens Excellence Trophies being presented to:

Paul Marasoiu, PEACOCK Hotels President, Golden Tulip Regional Director and Romanian Convention Bureau President

Jim Thompson, FIJET Director of Congresses & Meetings and member of the Executive Committee

Mihai Constantinescu, Artexim Director, the Enescu festival organizer.

Finally, one last jazz slice with Irina Sarbu Jazz Band, a musical journey around the world with famous songs on jazz rhythm!

Tourism Press Club - PressTour (FIJET Romania) is a professional association of journalists, dealing with topics related to tourism, and affiliated to the Fédération Internationale des Journalistes et Ecrivains du Tourisme (FIJET).

The organization brings together professional journalists from print media, radio and television, who are trying in an objective way to raise the national tourism.

As a professional organization, it provides support to member journalists in organizing trips, prepare documentation for their materials. They also publish articles in major publications worldwide.

The main objectives of Press Tour are: Improving the quality of tourism promotion by journalists and open communication with the stakeholders in this area by implementing national and international quality standards, communication, public relations and advertising; development of a dialogue between the members and the tourism industry; and the promotion of the national and international trainings for tourism journalists.

The "Splendens" Trophy

The "Splendens" Trophy (Brilliant in Latin), is a representation of a lighthouse – the FIJET Romania logo. It is made of gilded bronze crafted by two renowned Romanian sculptures: Grigore Minea and Mihai Tugearu..

The two artists have created many famous works that are exhibited internationally. Each trophy was crafted by hand and personalized by the artists. It is practically the first kinetic trophy in the world - the top sphere is spinning, while the whole assembly is made of gilded bronze.