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 honour the top companies and individuals in hospitality travel and tourism advertising public relations and web marketing. The evening also featured speciality awards from DEPARTURES Magazine Google TRAVELCLICK and TripAdvisor.
Bob Gilbert president and CEO of HSMAI Global. Mobile photo: Jarle Petterson
‘ìThis year’s Adrian Awards was a night filled with undeniable talent and innovation’ said Robert A. Gilbert CHME CHA president and CEO of HSMAI. ‘ìHSMAI 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 ‘ìHotel Check-In’ blog. ‘ìToday online is where so many travellers go for their information’ said De Lollis. ‘ìIt’s immediate it’s interactive and it’s lightening fast.’
The 2010 Adrian Awards received nearly 1100 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 ‘ìBest 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 12000 B.C.
Public Relations ‘ìBest of Show’
Tourism Queensland and their agency Cummins Nitro for the ‘ìBest Job in the World’ campaign that generated 34000 candidate applications from 197 countries vying for the position of Island Caretaker along with worldwide media coverage.
Web Marketing ‘ìBest of Show’
‘ìLife 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 humour to create an original holiday greeting video that was shared extensively and generated a tremendous ROI.
ADVERTISING PLATINUM WINNERS
- Company (Agency)
- 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
- Company (Agency)
- 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
- Company (Agency)
- 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)
HSMAI Adrian Awards Gold Award winners were honoured throughout the Gala and displayed during the Gold Award Gallery Reception presented with partner Expedia Media Solutions prior to the Gala.
In addition to its Adrian Awards HSMAI recognised the Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing and presented two individuals with the top honour of Lifetime Achievement. The awards recognised 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.
‘ìSo many of you here tonight have contributed to my career and I am incredibly grateful’ said Deuschl in accepting her award.
‘ìI’ve been in this business for 45 years and I’ve loved every day of it’ said Kerzner during his acceptance speech. ‘ìIt makes the world spin around.’
A new addition to the Adrian Awards line-up was TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Best Hotels and Brand Awards. Their top brand award went to Ritz-Carlton.
The DEPARTURES Magazine Luxury Marketing Achievement Award was presented to Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club and ISM.
TRAVELCLICK paid tribute to the best integrated eMarketing programme in the hotel industry with the eMarketer of the Year award presented to Joie de Vivre Hospitality.
Google’s Wisdom of the Crowds Award which recognises an integrated marketing campaign that today’s travellers and HSMAI members choose as the best in its class went to the San Diego Zoo.
Founded in 1957 the Adrian Awards embraces every segment of the industry including hotels airlines cruise lines car rental companies destinations credit card companies and more. Winners are selected from a field of 1100 entries by senior industry and media experts. For more information visit www.adrianawards.com.
