PORT TOWNSEND — In an online contest sponsored by USA Today, Port Townsend was in ninth place Thursday in a list of the best coastal small towns in the country.
The survey, accessible at http://tinyurl.com/PDN-seatown, allows each person to vote once daily until 11:59 p.m. EDT April 25.
The winners will be announced April 29.
The contest includes 20 small seaside towns chosen by a panel of travel experts and writers. The website lists the top 10 current vote-getters on the opening screen and the remainder on another page.
This tally will be taken down about five days before the end of voting to increase the mystery, according to Travis Seward, USA Today vice president of travel.
As of Thursday afternoon, Port Townsend was between two cities in Michigan: Traverse City and Saugatuck.
Port Townsend is the only Pacific Northwest town in the top 10. Cannon Beach, Ore., was in 14th place Thursday.
The top choice will be featured in a USA Today travel section story.
The winner can license a “branded badge” for use in advertising, with the cost determined by the size of the campaign.
“From a tourist standpoint, this endorsement carries some weight,” Seward said.
Several competitions
Throughout the past five years, Port Townsend has been included in several online competitions.
Christina Pivarnik, the city’s marketing director, said each nomination benefits the town, but the USA Today survey is especially gratifying.
“These voting competitions are a fantastic way to build awareness about Port Townsend nationwide, especially with the enormous readership of USA Today,” she said.
“The daily voting gets a buzz going about everything there is to see and do here, and the timing couldn’t be better as we head into the tourism season.”
Past contests that have given the town a boost include Budget Travel, MSNBC, Fox News and Yahoo Travel.
“I’m hoping that Port Townsend is No. 1 in this competition,” Pivarnik said.
“So if you love Port Townsend, please vote for us every day.”
The site provides two countdown clocks and another that indicates how much time is left before people can vote again.
Those who have trouble remembering to vote every day can sign up for email messages as reminders.
Depending on the contest, more than 100,000 votes can be cast, Seward said, although he does not track how many times an individual casts a ballot.
The site www.10best.com runs about 24 contests a year, Seward said.
Most are qualitative, citing the 10 best cities or products, while others are informative, such as the 10 longest bridges.
Seward said people appreciate information that is presented in digestible bites.
“There are so many choices available, so people are looking for a recommendation about the 10 places they can go,” he said.
“We take the research and the guesswork out of those choices.”
Pivarnik is spreading the word through a Facebook page, http://tinyurl.com/PDN-promote, in an effort to get out the daily vote.
“Port Townsend’s nomination to receive this travel award contest brings visibility to our beautiful seaport town and creates recognition for our hardworking entrepreneurs,” said Mari Mullen, Port Townsend Main Street executive director.
“We have so much to offer as a destination to shop, dine, stay and visit.”
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
