Arroba de Oro contest awards web sites that contribute to the U.S. Hispanic Market.

Since 2001, Arroba de Oro has been coordinating a contest in Latin America to recognize web sites that best contribute to the development of the internet industry in the region. Now, Arroba de Oro (Golden @ Sign) will launch its contest for the first time in the United States to honor companies, organizations and individuals that serve the U.S. Hispanic market via their web sites.

Hispanics, who represent the largest minority group in the United States with a population of 41 million, are more connected than ever: 40 percent access the Internet from home. Arroba de Oro hopes to strengthen and highlight the Hispanic internet penetration by showcasing the web sites that actively target this market through Spanish-language programming and features. Although Hispanic-Americans are integrated in American society, 77 percent prefer to speak Spanish.

Creativity, design, content, and the ability to identify with the U.S. Hispanic community are just some of the factors that the Arroba de Oro contest will take into consideration when granting its awards on August 18 in a gala ceremony in Miami.

Web sites can register, for free, at www.arrobadeoro.com by May 20th, where they will compete for top honors in the following categories:

1. Government and Non Government Organizations
2. Art, Culture and Tradition
3. Clubs and Sports Associations
4. Gastronomy
5. Humor
6. Online Newspapers
7. Personal Web Pages
8. Professional Services
9. Religion and Spirituality
10. Hotel, Tourism and Restaurants
11. Educational Institutions
12. Corporate Sites
13. Fan Clubs

A jury, composed of 50 members from 17 countries, will certify the winners of each category after registered voters cast their electronic ballots online at www.arrobadeoro.com During the ceremony winners will receive awards that include Best Design, Best Home Page, and Most Online Votes and take home $75,000 in cash and prizes.

Since 2001, the Arroba de Oro contest has been dedicated to awarding web sites that best contribute to the development of the Internet in Latin America. Originally from El Salvador, this contest has extended to14 other Latin American countries and now, for the first time, in the United States. The contest is open to all organizations, companies and individuals that develop or posses an active web site on the Internet and that is accessible for at least part of the year, geared toward the Hispanic market.