The World Travel Award was founded at the New York World�s Fair in 1964 by Jurgen Hartmann, editor of Travel Digest, to further better understanding among nations through travel, and to honor industry leaders whose achievements are of worldwide significance. �Important criteria include the dedication to overcome bias and prejudice in travel,� explained Hartmann. �Ms. Gonzalez� work has elevated hotel public relations communications through innovative, creative strategies that bear the hallmark of thoughtful, corporate citizenship, presented with literary style and polish. We are delighted to bestow on Ms.  Gonzalez, one of the industry�s oldest and most prestigious awards, the World Travel Award, which has been called the �Nobel Prize� of the travel industry.�

Over the past 36 years, some of the winners have included: The Netherlands Tourist Office; Brenners Park, Baden-Baden; Carnival Cruise Lines; CLIA; Le Crillion, Paris; Cunard; American Jewish Committee; Travel Agent Magazine; Universal Studios Hollywood; KLM; Lufthansa; the European Travel Commission, the Ritz Paris, etc.

�This is a wonderful recognition of MaureenBrigid�s abilities in hotel public relations, and an honor for all of us at The Peabody Orlando,� continued Anderson. �The Peabody Orlando has benefited from her enlightened approach to the whole field of hotel public relations for the past five years. She has elevated the hotel PR profession to new heights. Her public relations strategies have showered our hotel with awards and recognitions for all aspects of our operations and service excellence, from meetings, conventions, to food and beverage. She also has received numerous awards for her creation of the Orlando/Peabody Alliance for the Arts & Culture, (OPAAC), and for the hotel�s unique sponsorship of the annual art contest for the Federal Duck Stamp, and the preservation and conservation of wildfowl habitat through The Peabody Orlando Ducks. Obviously, we are all proud of her.�

A native of Dublin, Ireland, Gonzalez was educated in Dublin and Cambridge, UK, and has an advanced degree in English literature. She worked for the Irish Tourist Board in Dublin, Imperial College at the University of London, Unesco Paris, UN, GATT, ILO and the World Health Organization in Geneva.

She is married to American foreign correspondent, travel journalist, Arky Gonzalez. They live in Clermont, Florida.