The Flagstaff Convention and Visitors Bureau’s reimaged marketing campaign and redesigned website, which was launched in June 2013, has received multiple tourism and marketing industry awards this year.
Governor Jan Brewer and the Arizona Office of Tourism honored statewide tourism leaders at the 2014 Governor’s Tourism Awards Gala in July. The Flagstaff CVB reimaging and marketing campaign was honored with a best practice award in the “Innovative Promotion – Rural” category. The Innovative Promotions Award is one of five best practices awards given annually and is presented to the organization that best demonstrates outstanding quality, creativity or technology in planning and carrying out a promotional program.
The CVB won the award for “Best Display Ad (Single or Campaign)” at the Arizona Interactive Marketing Association (AZIMA) TIM Awards in March 2014. These awards highlight the work of individuals and agencies in the interactive marketing realm and only promotions created by Arizona based entities are eligible to enter. The judges for this award noted that they were “wowed” by the variety of the ads and how the seasonality of Flagstaff was highlighted.
MarCom Awards, an international creative competition administered by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals, which recognizes outstanding achievement by marketing and communication professionals, awarded the Flagstaff CVB’s creative efforts in two categories this year. The Platinum Award, which is the competition’s highest honor, was presented to the CVB in the “Marketing/Promotional Campaign/Branding Refresh” category for an exceptional overall reimage campaign. The CVB also received the Gold Award in the “Ads/Advertising Campaign” category.
The CVB also won three Communicator Awards presented by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts for aspects of the reimaged marketing campaign. The Gold Award for first place in the “Outdoor/Environmental Advertising Campaign” category was presented for the CVB’s series of Metro bus and light rail wraps. Also, two Silver Awards were received in the “Website – Travel/Tourism” category and the “Integrated Campaign – Promotional/Branding” category.
The Flagstaff CVB has also been recognized in the meetings and events segment of the industry, being named one of the best CVBs, DMO or Tourist Boards in the Southwest and has received a prestigious Pinnacle Award from Successful Meetings. The 2014 Pinnacle Awards are the mark of excellence for meeting destinations, hotels and conference centers. The awarded organizations are anonymously nominated by meeting planners who have worked with the destination to service their meetings, trade shows and conventions during the previous year.
The Flagstaff CVB continues to find fresh ways to use the reimaged marketing campaign elements and imagery to further enhance the Flagstaff tourism brand. The most recent project in the campaign is the Flagstaff Cool Zone.
The Flagstaff Cool Zone is a new outdoor marketing initiative located in a courtyard area in the heart of the downtown Phoenix Legends Entertainment district, near Chase Field and the US Airways Center. Visitors to the area experience larger-than-life Flagstaff imagery, misters chilling the air and are called to action with the hashtag #VisitCool and website www.flagstaffarizona.org/visitcool.
For more information on the continued marketing efforts of the Flagstaff Convention and Visitors Bureau a copy of the Annual Report and Marketing Plan can be found at flagstaffarizona.org in the “About FCVB” section. FBN
By Joanne Hudson