Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Mexico Premiere has just announced a "Call for Entries" for the 2012 Nick Gallo Award, an annual contest for freelance writers specializing in Mexico.

This year’s award will be announced online in mid-March, around the time of the 2012 Tianguis Turistico. Traditionally held in the seaside city of Acapulco, this is the first year the Tiaguis has migrated away from the state of Guerrero, to the state of Jalisco and the beautiful town of Puerto Vallarta.

Nick Gallo, a two-time winner of the Mexico Tourism Board’s prestigious Pluma de Plata Award, and regular contributor to such prestigious publications as Travel & Leisure, Alaska Airlines Magazine, United Airlines Hemispheres, Private Clubs, and Northwest Airlines World Traveler, was also a father, husband, and all around way cool guy who died in October 2007 while on assignment in Greece.

The Nick Gallo Award has always represented an opportunity for journalists the world over to get to know Mexico up close and personal, and for those who know it to get together and celebrate the best this country has to offer.

Entry Guidelines:

• The contest is open to all US and Canada based freelance writers specializing Mexico.
• The article must be published in 2011.
• Entry must have a minimum of 500 words and was published in either print media (magazine or newspaper) or an online publication or blog.
• The topic must be related to Mexico’s tourism and/or culture.
• Entry deadline is February 29, 2012.

Work will be judged by a panel of professionals from the Mexico tourism industry, including executives from airlines and hotels. The winner will receive a one-of-a-kind woodblock print on plexiglass/lucite created by artist Laurie Brown (Nick’s wife), and three complimentary nights at the Casa de Mita in beautiful Punta Mita, Nayarit, Mexico, courtesy of Casa de Mita and Mexico Boutique Hotels.

Send your entries in NOW to editor(at)mexicopremiere.com.