The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) presented the winners of its 53rd annual Adrian Awards at the New York Marriott Marquis on Monday night. The Adrian Awards honor the top companies and individuals in hospitality, travel and tourism advertising, public relations and web marketing. The evening also featured specialty awards from DEPARTURES Magazine, Google, TRAVELCLICK, and TripAdvisor.
“This year’s Adrian Awards was a night filled with undeniable talent and innovation,” said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI. “HSMAI is proud of the 2009 winners for their creativity and immense skill.”
USA TODAY reporter Barbara De Lollis opened the Gala and gave the audience insight into her move from print to digital media through her “Hotel Check-In” blog. “Today, online is where so many travelers go for their information,” said De Lollis. “It’s immediate, it’s interactive and it’s lightening fast.”
The 2010 Adrian Awards received nearly 1,100 entries from around the globe. The prestigious Platinum winners were judged to be the most extraordinary entrants from a selection of 123 Gold winners. Chosen from the Platinum winners, the highest distinction of Best of Show for the divisions of advertising, public relations and web marketing went to:
Advertising “Best of Show” The San Diego Zoo and their agency M&C Saatchi for their entry that spread the message of conservation of the world’s animals. The campaign launched the Zoo’s new exhibit by telling the story of Phil and Harry, a pair of computer-generated mammoths living the good life in Southern California circa 12,000 B.C.
Public Relations “Best of Show” Tourism Queensland and their agency Cummins Nitro for the “Best Job in the World” campaign that generated 34,000 candidate applications from 197 countries vying for the position of Island Caretaker, along with worldwide media coverage.
Web Marketing “Best of Show” “Life of a Brown Paper Bag” video by the Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau. The destination took one of its most treasured holiday traditions and added compelling content and humor to create an original holiday greeting video that was shared extensively and generated a tremendous ROI.
ADVERTISING PLATINUM WINNERS
Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (R&R Partners)
Lindblad Expeditions
Maine Office of Tourism (Swardlick Marketing Group)
Marriott International (McGarry Bowen)
Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism (Target Marketing)
San Diego Zoo (M&C Saatchi)
PUBLIC RELATIONS PLATINUM WINNERS
Elite Island Resorts (Pomerantz PR)
Fontainebleau Miami Beach (Weber Shandwick)
Hotel Sax Chicago (Zapwater Communications, Inc.)
Moroccan National Tourist Office (Spring, O’Brien)
Omni Hotels (Weber Shandwick)
Pennsylvania Tourism Office (Tierney)
Tourism Queensland (Cummins Nitro)
VisitScotland (Laura Davidson Public Relations)
WEB MARKETING PLATINUM WINNERS
Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau
Dolce Hotels and Resorts
Morgans Hotel Group (ZAAZ)
The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism (Weber Shandwick and phearcreative)
Tourism Queensland (Cummins Nitro)
Howard Johnson (Berlin Cameron)
In addition to its Adrian Awards, HSMAI recognized the Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing and presented two individuals with the top honor of Lifetime Achievement. The awards recognized the recipients for their significant contributions and lasting impressions on the hospitality and travel industry.
HSMAI's annual Albert E. Koehl Award for advertising and marketing was awarded to Sol Kerzner, Founder, Chairman & CEO, Kerzner International Holdings Limited. The Winthrop W. Grice Award for public relations excellence was bestowed upon Vivian A. Deuschl, Corporate Vice President, Public Relations, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.
“So many of you here tonight have contributed to my career and I am incredibly grateful,” said Deuschl in accepting her award.
“I've been in this business for 45 years, and I've loved every day of it,” said Kerzner during his acceptance speech. “It makes the world spin around.”
Expedia Media Solutions hosted this year's Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Sales & Marketing in a private reception and then kicked off the evening with the Networking Cocktail Reception featuring the 2009 Gold Adrian Award winners.
Expedia Media Solutions is dedicated to building online and offline media partnerships for travel and non-travel brand advertisers .
In addition, the following prestigious specialty awards were presented by our partners:
DEPARTURES Magazine Luxury Marketing Achievement Award
This award is presented by DEPARTURESMagazine and chosen by an elite panel of judges who recognize the best award-winning print advertising campaigns produced for the luxury travel market. The Departures Magazine Luxury Marketing Achievement Award is selected from all HSMAI Adrian Award 2009 Gold Award winners. The DEPARTURES Magazine Luxury Marketing Achievement Award was presented to Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club and ISM.
Google's Wisdom of the Crowd Award-
Guided by a philosophy that states: Focus on the user and all else will follow, Google is perpetually driven to provide the best possible experience for consumers. Similarly, Google's enduring relevance is guided by the preferences and actions of it's millions of users. In honor of these principles, Google sponsored this year's Wisdom of the Crowds award. Based on cross platform integration, brand impact and overall innovation, three marketing campaigns will be selected from the 2009 Gold HSMAI Adrian Award winners. In the end, Google's award winner receives the most important honor of all: top honors based on the collective wisdom of the traveling public and industry peers. Google’s Wisdom of the Crowds Award went to the San Diego Zoo.
TravelCLICK eMarketer of the Year
Presented by TravelCLICK, the leader in hotel ecommerce solutions, this award recognizes the best integrated eMarketing program in the hotel industry. Contenders will be judged on the strength of their web presence and booking performance driven by world-class online marketing, including website design, organic and paid search, and emerging online strategies such as channel extension and community development. The winner of the eMarketer of the Year Award demonstrates superior ability to attract and convert guests through the most effective channel, the web. TRAVELCLICK paid tribute to the best integrated eMarketing program in the hotel industry with the eMarketer of the Year award, presented to Joie de Vivre Hospitality.
TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards
TripAdvisor®, the world's most popular and largest travel community, will kick off its 8th annual Travelers’ Choice® Awards with the announcement of the top 2010 award winners at the Adrian Awards Gala. Unlike any other hotel awards programs, Travelers' Choice winners are based on the millions of real and unbiased reviews and opinions about hotels on tripadvisor.com™ and content from across the web. Their top brand award was presented to The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.
HSMAI is pleased to partner with Global Events (formerly known as Paint The Town Red) for the 2010 Adrian Awards Gala production.
DEPARTURES Magazine Luxury Marketing Achievement Award
Google's Wisdom of the Crowd Award-
TravelCLICK eMarketer of the Year
TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards
