PREMIO EXCELLENT 2006 Il Premio Excellent (the “Excellent” award), Italy’s most prestigious tourist industry award was presented this year to Carol and David Ross, founders and owners of Sophisticated Italy. This is the second time in eleven years that the award has been presented to Americans and the first time to a Destination Management Company. The award read as follows “Loving Italy is not a good enough reason for receiving this award but having helped Americans discover new aspects of Italy, with its significant cultural traditions and doing so with “contagious passion“ and inexhaustible curiosity, is a more than a valid motive for the Ross’s receiving the Premio Excellent in 2006. Their work deserves our constant gratitude. Carol and David Ross, in the last ten years, have created a company which specializes in high class itineraries with surprising originality.” The award was presented at a gala dinner, held during the BIT Tourism Show, on February 20.