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Host Our Coast
Host Our Coast is the coolest job on the coast. Each year a contest is held to pick a blogger to come for the summer to live in and promote tourism in our area. Using new media technology they have fun while working very hard.

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This year's winner was Ryan Brooks a returned Peace Corps volunteer and world traveler. He's teamed up with Melanie McLean who is returning to the program having partnered with the 2009 winner Paul Cox. I caught up with them in a coffee shop in Bethany Beach.

Hosts Ryan and Melanie use humor and a lot of creativity to chronicle their adventures. This has paid off with thousands of page views for each story they post on their blog and increasing numbers of followers on the social media sites: Facebook, Twitter, and Foursquare.

Knowledge of photography and digital video production are a must for contestants. Host Our Coast provides a great opportunity for creative people who are looking to jumpstart a career in travel journalism and promotions. The completion is steep. Last year's winner Errol Webber had previously won an Oscar for one of his short films.

Host Our Coast has a variety of local partners including the Rural Development Center at UMES, local businesses, events, and tourism boards. The money they invest in provides them with a dynamic form of promotion that is getting high praise and winning awards.

Jim Rapp, director of Delmarva Low Impact Tourism Experiences serves as the point person for the program partners. He helps introduce the winning contestants to the area and connects them to the other partner organizations.

The season is just about wrapped up for 2011. But soon it will be time to plan for next year. If you have an event or a region on Delmarva that you want to promote next summer contact the folks at Host Our Coast to find out how you can participate.

Contact Information
Jim Rapp
Director, Delmarva Low Impact Tourism Experiences (DLITE)
443-944-8097
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Host Our Coast Partners:
Amish Country Bike Tour
Ayers Creek Adventures
Berlin, Maryland
Cape May - Lewes Ferry
Delaware Center for the Inland Bays
Delaware Tourism
Delmarva Board Sport Adventures
Delmarva Low Impact Tourism Experiences
Full City Media
Maryland Coastal Bays Program
OceanCity.com
Resort Quest
Rural Development Center at UMES
Somerset County Tourism
Visit Southern Delaware
Wicomico County Tourism
Worcester County Tourism


Links
Host Our Coast Website: http://www.hostourcoast.com
Follow HOC On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/Follow.Host.Our.Coast
Follow HOC On Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/HostOurCoast
Follow HOC On Foursquare: https://foursquare.com/hostourcoast