eTSY Awards 2019 Archives - The Travel Vertical

Is Aerosmith Hinting at a Refresh for the Las Vegas Tourism Slogan?

January 7, 2020 by Laurie Jo Miller Farr Leave a Comment

So…Sin City doesn’t do anything in a small way, right?

Because the always-on, digital age may mean that it’s now time to tweak the famous Las Vegas tag line, “What Happens Here, Stays Here,” why not get help from Aerosmith?

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that the slogan was softly launched at an Aerosmith concert on November 19 at the Strip’s Park MGM. Lead singer Steven Tyler engaged the crowd in a call-and-response: “When I say, ‘What Happens Here’, you say, ‘Only Happens Here.'”

Well, that works!

According to the Instagram post caption, more news will drop on January 26.

We’ll be watching.

A tourism slogan shout-out: “Virginia is for Lovers” celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. “I Love NY” was introduced in 1977. And at the 2019 eTSY Awards at the 20th Annual eTourism Summit, “What Happens Here, Stays Here” was awarded to Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority for “Best Campaign of the Past 20 Years.”

eTSY Award Winners Announced at 2019 eTourism Summit

October 9, 2019 by Laurie Jo Miller Farr Leave a Comment

Sponsored and Presented by (l to r) Josh Collins, Director of Destination Activation + Marketing at Streetsense and Derek Price, Director Business Development–North America at Expedia Group Media Solutions

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 9, 2019—Connect Travel, owners and producers of eTourism Summit, is pleased to announce the winners of the 2nd Annual eTSY Awards. The event took place during the 20th Annual eTourism Summit, the top North American gathering of destination digital marketers in travel and their partner agencies.

Powered by Expedia Group Media Solutions and Streetsense, the eTourism Summit Excellence Awards recognize and celebrate the best of 2018-19 campaigns and programs with awards in a dozen original categories.

Josh Collins, Jake Steinman, Derek Price

New this year is the top award for “Best Campaign of the Past 20 Years,” presented to Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority for “What Happens Here, Stays Here” and an annual “See Tomorrow” award presented to Jake Steinman, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of eTourism Summit.

The call for entries opened in May 2019 and concluded four months later, garnering strong interest from city, state, county, and regional DMOs and attractions throughout the United States and Canada.

Appreciation goes to a panel of expert judges: Josh Collins, Director, Destination Activation + Marketing, Streetsense; Andrew Dysart, VP of Digital Solutions, Tarsus; Andrew Hertz, with Dade Media Inc. and Monya Mandich, Global Vice President, Marketing at Expedia Group who considered three key criteria: strategy and objective; creativity; and impact/measurability.

“The eTourism Summit community is comprised of tech-savvy digital marketers who are always looking for innovative ideas that will deliver measurable results for their destinations,” said Monya Mandich, Global Vice President of Marketing, Expedia Group Media Solutions.

Ralph Thompson, Executive Director of Travel + Tourism at Streetsense said, “Because Streetsense thrives in creating brands people love and places people love to be, it’s an honor to partner with the eTSY Awards showcasing the best from the people and places that make the travel and tourism industry so amazing!”

Many of the awards were evaluated according to size for those with annual marketing budgets under $5 million or over $5 million. “The quality of digital marketing in the travel and tourism industry is impressive. Every category was highly competitive,” said J. William Seccombe, president of Connect Travel. “We applaud everyone submitting for examples of great work and congratulate the winners.

We also salute Bloomington Convention & Visitors Bureau for two decades of perfect attendance at eTourism Summit.”

Representing the sponsors of the eTourism Summit 2019 eTSY Awards for Excellence were Derek Price, Director of Sales – North America, Expedia Group Media Solutions and Josh Collins, Director – Destination Activation + Marketing, Streetsense.

Josh Collins, Mike Green (Tourism Winnipeg), Derek Price

Best Destination Website — BeginatBothell.com for Begin at Bothell and Streetsense

Best Content Marketing Program (small budget) — Frankenmuth and TwoSix Digital for Frankenmuth Spring Shoulder Campaign

Best Content Marketing Program (large budget) — San Francisco Travel Association for “Why San Francisco is So Delicious”

Best Influencer Marketing Campaign — Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory for “Travel the Entire Oregon Trail for the 175th Anniversary”

Best Use of Video (small budget) — Economic Development Winnipeg for “Autocomplete – Winnipeg Edition!”

Best Use of Video (large budget), A three-way tie — San Francisco Travel Association for “Freedom to Create” Arts Anthem Video; AND Punta Gorda and Englewood Beach Visitor & Convention Bureau and Aqua Marketing & Communications for “Outsiders Welcome” Video Series; AND The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel and MMGY Global

Innovation Award — Conversant and Visit Savannah for how to use one-to-one transactions to measure the complete economic impact of digital ad spend

Best Campaign of the Past 20 Years — Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority for “What Happens Here, Stays Here”

Perfect Attendance — Bloomington Convention & Visitors Bureau for never missing eTourism Summit since 2000

See Tomorrow Award — Jake Steinman, Founder and Chairman Emeritus, eTourism Summit for his ideation and vision

ABOUT CONNECT TRAVEL Connect Travel creates efficient and effective environments to expedite the sales process by connecting tourism professionals with the products, services, people and ideas that allow them to thrive in a rapidly evolving and highly competitive global marketplace. For more information, visit connecttravel.com.

ABOUT CONNECT Connect is a leader in the meetings, travel and tourism industry. Specializing in destination marketing, the company produces a full suite of digital programs, online and mobile solutions, meeting business and travel magazines, trade shows and consumer events, travel guides for newspapers and leisure magazines and destination information, which is distributed through broadcast and custom programs. More information about the company’s brands and services is available at connectmeetings.com

…And We’re Going Live with the Preliminary #eTS19 Agenda

August 20, 2019 by Laurie Jo Miller Farr Leave a Comment

See Regular Agenda Updates on the #eTS19 Website

**Get Your Seat Before It’s Too Late**
While you’re at it, make sure you book your hotel room **here** by the Sept. 14 deadline.

Keeping ahead of the latest digital marketing trends is essential for the success of a DMO pro. But you already know that!

Did you know? eTourism Summit is turning 20 this year. We’re all about “See Tomorrow,” but look from where we’ve come.

When the first eTourism Summit convened in 2000, companies like Ask Jeeves, Infoseek, Excite, Lycos and Yahoo ruled search. Google was just getting geared up and Mark Zuckerberg was a high school sophomore. Mobile phones were just that…phones. Internet connectivity and BlackBerry were still two to three years in the future.

Four Pre-Conference Workshops

Four optional pre-conference workshops with limited spaces available (register now!) are on offer on Oct. 7:

Developing Story: Compelling Consumers to Action through Content
Crisis Management for DMOs
LinkedIn Marketing Solutions for Destination Marketers
Influencer Marketing: A-Z Workshop in Implementing Influencers & Digital Creators Into Your Marketing Strategy

Hear From Your Peers

eTourism Summit represents the intersection of digital media and tourism promotion in an intimate, interactive setting to facilitate networking, as it has since the start of the 21st century.

There are four tracks to choose from and move around at will. It’s up to you.

Pivoting from Personas to Personal
In Data We Trust
Video, Video, Video
Storytelling vs. Story Selling

DMOs, attractions, and their agency partners present case studies, share successes and even some failures. We explore innovative ideas and the latest trends in marketing, platforms, content, tools, search, social media, mobile and web design.

Expert-led sessions from thought leaders plus dozens of innovative case studies are among the most popular sessions every year. See the confirmed speakers here.

We’re adding more confirmations weekly. Among the DMOs sharing their learnings by example are:

Andrew O’Connor, Associate Director – Content Marketing, Destination DC
Elise Trivers, Social Media Manager, Visit Denver
Liz Mabe, Digital Marketing Director, Discover Puerto Rico
Leah Chandler, Chief Marketing Officer, Discover Puerto Rico
Brenda Nebesky, Deputy Director, Travel Nevada
Zeek Coleman, Interactive Marketing Manager, Visit Savannah
Scott Schult, Executive Vice President of Marketing, Visit Myrtle Beach
Amy Boek, Chief Marketing Officer, Amelia Island CVB
Taisa Veras, Director of Social Media, NYC & Company
Ed Harris, Chief Marketing Officer, Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board

What Else?

Be there on Day Two for the General Session when Brian Fanzo, Founder & CEO, iSocialFanz presents his game plan for making a mark in “Press the Damn Button: How to Create a Memorable Storytelling Strategy.”

Find Out Who Won!

Don’t miss the Second Annual eTSY Awards for excellence in digital tourism marketing. Find out who is called on stage as the winner of the best campaign of the past 20 years…and why.

Sharing the Love

Check out these video testimonials from folks you know.

Hands-On Crisis Management for DMOs: Be Prepared…What to Do Before, During, and After

July 30, 2019 by Laurie Jo Miller Farr Leave a Comment

wildfires in wine country — Credit: Torbakhopper (flickr 2.0)

One thing is certain: There’s a crisis in your future. And when it does happen, every minute counts.

Whether it’s Mother Nature or man-made, no destination can escape this reality: fire, flood, earthquake, hurricane, terrorism, epidemic or ??? The question is not what will happen and when, but whether you will be ready for it.

And afterward, there’s damage control.

The True Story of the Golden Fire Hydrant

Golden Fire Hydrant, San Francisco — Credit: Marc Schmidt (flickr 2.0)

Another thing is certain: History teaches us that things will happen that you cannot predict and do not expect.

That’s what occurred when the city’s fire chief, who knew more about the water supply connections than anyone, was killed in the initial San Francisco earthquake of 1906. Without his intel, 80% of the city was destroyed by several days of massive fires before this hilltop hydrant was opened and halted the fire line’s advance.

How Can You Be Prepared?

Come to the Crisis Management for DMOs Workshop at eTourism Summit and take home a practical action plan, plus a back-up plan, too.

We’ll explore and define the role of a DMO—what’s required and what’s not— in an afternoon workshop conducted by two of the nation’s foremost experts on this critical subject. Doug Levy and Peggy Bendel are tourism-savvy crisis management professionals and notable authors.

Learn From Experts

You’ll receive these two signed books from the authors, your workshop leaders:

Doug Levy, author and Peggy Bendel, author

“The Communications Golden Hour” by Doug Levy
“It’s a Crisis! Now What?” by Peggy Bendel

In the face of a crisis, be prepared, be informed, be empowered.
You’ll find out:

What you should do now
What you should always do
What you should never say
What you should do when the crisis is over

An interactive session is planned, so places are limited. To participate in this eTourism Summit Pre-Conference Workshop on Oct. 7, 2019, register here.

P.S. And here’s an unexpected tourism twist on a potential crisis: “Great White Shark Fever Sweeps Cape Cod” means that sold-out shark sighting boat trips from Chatham, Mass. are going for $2,500 a pop and attendance is up 60% at the local educational conservancy, whose Sharktivity app has had 200,000+ downloads.

Last Call for Entries

Share your digital excellence.

Last call for the 2nd Annual eTSY Awards application, closing Aug. 1.

You gotta be in it to win it. Apply today.

Roundup: A Few People, Lots of Jobs, Twitter-in-Chief

May 28, 2019 by Laurie Jo Miller Farr Leave a Comment

People

Tammy Blount-Canavan, President & CEO of See Monterey received the 2019 Global Ambassador Award at IMEX from Destinations International. This award recognizes her organization’s work on global issues of sustainability and destination stewardship, as well as continued work in building an engaged global destination community.

Dawn Holden joined Destinations International as vice president of membership engagement. In her new role, she will develop and implement overall strategic direction of DI’s membership operations, including recruitment and retention of members, member services and engagement. Most recently Holden was vice president of partnership development for VisitPittsburgh.

The Destinations International role was previously held by Allison Best, formerly of Visit Oakland, who has joined CFO by Design, the DMO consultancy.

Marco Barros is retiring following 22 years as president & CEO of the San Antonio Area Tourism Council. Dan Decker, chief operations officer of the Texas Travel Industry Association, will serve as interim leader of the Tourism Council until a replacement for Barros can be found.

The Downtown Boulder Partnership announced the appointment of Chip, who dropped his last name when he was 20, as the partnership’s next CEO. Chip, who grew up in Colorado Springs, is currently executive director of the Downtown Association of Santa Cruz in California, taking over in Boulder on Aug. 5. Chip replaces Sean Maher, who resigned after a decade in the role.

Fritz Smith, Executive Director of the Central Pennsylvania Convention & Visitors Bureau (CPCVB), announced three new hires. Lesley Kistner, Public Affairs Director; Tim Boyde, Chief Administrative Officer; and Edward Stoddard, Communications Director.

The Guam Visitors Bureau has promoted Nadine Leon Guerrero to director of global marketing and Nico Fujikawa to director of tourism research.

Airbnb appointed Angela Ahrendts as its third independent board member, joining former American Express CEO Ken Chenault and Ann Mather, a former Disney and Pixar executive. As SVP of Apple Retail for the past five years before stepping down earlier this year, Ahrendts overhauled the technology giant’s retail experience. Prior to Apple, she was CEO of Burberry.

Twitter is hiring a “Tweeter in Chief,” reports CNBC. “Whoever gets it has to run the @Twitter account.” Get the deets here.

Career Corner

Visit St. Pete/Clearwater has retained SearchWide Global to conduct an executive search for president & CEO.

Philadelphia CVB is hiring a marketing director with at least 10 years’ experience.

Discover the Palm Beaches is hiring an Associate VP-Integrated Marketing, via SearchWide Global.

Williamson County CVB |Visit Franklin (TN) is hiring a digital brand manager.

Visit Dallas requires a COO.

Visit Fort Worth requires a VP-Finance & Operations.

Visit Lancaster (PA) requires a president & CEO, via SearchWide Global.

Rochester (MN) is hiring a new executive director in a search conducted by SearchWide Global.

Visit Indy requires a Director/Sr. Manager of Destination Development.

DeKalb County CVB in Illinois is seeking an experienced executive director following the retirement of Debbie Armstrong (The Travel Vertical, 5/7/2019).

Galveston Island CVB is hiring a chief tourism officer.

Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (NC) is hiring a digital marketing specialist.

Washington DC Economic Partnership, focused on business attraction and retention, is hiring a director of marketing & communications.

Destination DC has an opening for a tourism & visitor services manager as well as a partnerships coordinator.

Visit Tucson is hiring a tourism sales manager.

Space Coast Tourism Development Office in Cocoa, FL requires a tourism marketing manager.

Stowe Area Association (VT), the official DMO, is hiring an experienced executive director.

The City of Glendale (AZ), nine miles west of Downtown Phoenix, is hiring a CVB Administrator.

Georgia World Congress Center Authority in Savannah is seeking a public relations and marketing manager.

The City of Harrisonburg, Virginia in the Shenandoah Valley is hiring a tourism manager as well as a marketing coordinator for its sports facility.

Clackamas County, Oregon, in the Portland metro area seeks an executive director for tourism & cultural affairs.

Miles Partnership seeks an experienced director of partner strategy based in their Sarasota office.

Macy’s is hiring a manager of tourism marketing in NYC.

Discover Los Angeles has an opening for a coordinator, client & destination services.

Edmond CVB, a department of the City of Edmond (Okla.) 15 miles north of Oklahoma City, requires a director.

Simpleview seeks an entry level content coordinator in their Tucson HQ.

ADARA is hiring a customer success manager-destination marketing cloud in their Chicago office.

Pinellas County, FL is hiring a sports and events business development manager and a brand manager reporting to the CVB.

Leon County Government in Tallahassee, FL is hiring a senior marketing manager with knowledge of destination marketing/management.

Tik Tok, a growing platform for short-form video content, is hiring a head of marketing in Greater Los Angeles.

The National September 11 Memorial and Museum in NYC is hiring a director of sales & marketing.

The new Los Angeles Stadium and Entertainment District is hiring a director of marketing in Hollywood Park (LASED), which will be a year-round sports and entertainment destination four miles from Los Angeles International Airport.

Destinations International in Washington, D.C. is hiring an Advocacy & Data Intern.

Tourism Ireland is hiring an advertising and consumer executive to plan, coordinate and execute TV, social media and digital marketing campaigns for US market, based in NYC.

And a reminder: The 2nd Annual eTSY Awards for excellence in tourism marketing is now accepting applications in 13 categories. Apply today!