MCLEAN, VIRGINIA Hilton Hotels & Resorts won the public relations best of show award in the 54th annual Adrian Awards, a gala honoring the best in travel marketing sponsored by Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International.
Hilton Worldwide’s flagship brand was lauded for its partnership with the film “Up in the Air,” the George Clooney vehicle that prominently featured Hilton properties and its HHonors loyalty program. Hilton had numerous promotional and publicity tie-ins with the film.
The award for best integrated e-marketing program in the hotel industry was won by KeyLime Cove Indoor Waterpark Resorts. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Hampton Hotels and Sandals Resorts earned awards in the advertising category. IHG was honored in the public relations category, and three hotel industry organizations—Millennium Hotels & Resorts, Interval International and Aramark Parks and Destinations—were among the digital marketing winners.
In addition to its Adrian Awards, HSMAI recognized the Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing and presented two individuals with lifetime achievement awards.
HSMAI’s annual Albert E. Koehl Award for advertising and marketing was awarded to Bill Marriott, chairman and CEO of Marriott International. The Winthrop W. Grice Award for public relations excellence was bestowed upon Nancy Friedman, founder, Nancy J. Friedman Public Relations.
“I’m so proud to accept this award on behalf of our 12,000-plus sales and marketing and reservation executives around the world,” Marriott said in accepting the award from last year’s honoree, Kerzner International Chairman and CEO Sol Kerzner. “We’ve been active members of HSMAI since those early years and will continue on.”
The other two best of show awards went to tourism agencies. The advertising honor went to Barbados Tourism Authority and its agency, MMG Worldwide, for their “Long Live Life” campaign. The digital marketing best of show was bestowed on New Mexico Tourism Department and M&C Saatchi for their “Day of Enchantment” entry.