Twitter currently unavailablePANAMA CITY BEACH CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAu PRESIDENT AND CEO DAN ROWE HONORED AT ANNUAL HSMAI ADRIAN AWARDS GALA
- Named as one of “Top 25 Minds in Hospitality Sales & Marketing” as CVB receives four awards -
NEW YORK, NY, February 28, 2012 – During last evening’s awards gala in New York, Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) recognized president and CEO of the Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau Dan Rowe as one of the “Top 25 Minds in Hospitality Sales & Marketing.” The annual list recognizes the “best of the best” in the hospitality, travel and tourism industries and recognized Rowe’s successful rebranding of the destination, role in bringing Southwest Airlines to Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport and multi-faceted campaign to counter misconceptions during the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.
“It is a great honor to be named in this prestigious list and I am proud to be in the great company of my fellow inductees,” said Dan Rowe, president and CEO of the Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau. “My sincere gratitude goes to our team and stakeholders for their continued commitment to our community and its growth.”
The 2011 “Top 25” recipients were judged by a panel of senior industry executives for their recent work based on the following criteria: creativity and innovation; cutting edge sales or marketing campaigns; triumph in challenging situations; and sales efforts that resulted in dramatic gains. The recipients were honored during a private ceremony preceding the Adrian Awards Gala and also recognized on-stage during the evening’s featured event.
"The 'Top 25' is our who's who list of sales and marketing professionals that we celebrate each year as they are innovators and have produced strong results in their respective industries," said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHBA, president and CEO of HSMAI. "These professionals have succeeded in growing business for their own organizations and have continued to inspire and raise the bar for the rest of the hospitality industry."
Rowe’s recognition comes in conjunction with four awards received by the Panama City Beach CVB, including a gold, silver and two bronze awards in the 55th Annual Adrian Awards Competition. The winning entries were showcased on digital displays during the annual HSMAI Adrian Awards Gala, a black-tie dinner reception and awards presentation attended by more than 1,000 hospitality, travel and tourism marketing and communications executives on Feb. 27, 2012 at the New York Marriott Marquis. This year’s contest attracted nearly 1,000 entries from over 30 countries, judged by more than 200 top advertising, public relations and digital marketing experts and leading members of the travel community.
Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau’s winning entries included:
· GOLD – Panama City Beach feature coverage on CBS “Evening News,” highlighting Spring Break 2011 and the launch of high season in the destination
· SILVER – REAL.FUN.GUARANTEE. Digital Banners that kept consumers informed about Panama City Beach’s pristine waters and beaches during Summer 2010
· BRONZE – Panama City Beach feature coverage in the Wall Street Journal, showcasing the destination and the Convention & Visitors Bureau’s innovative tactics for reaching potential travelers
· BRONZE – Digital marketing campaign targeted to 45 colleges employing Facebook media which resulted in an increase of nearly 30,000 fans
About HSMAI:
HSMAI is the hospitality industry source for knowledge, community and recognition for leaders committed to professional development, sales growth, revenue optimization, marketing and branding. With a strong focus on education, HSMAI has become the industry champion in identifying and communicating trends in the hospitality industry. Founded in 1927, HSMAI is an individual membership organization comprising more than 7,000 members worldwide, with 40 chapters in the Americas Region. For more information on HSMAI, call (703) 506-3280 or visit the website at www.hsmai.org. Join our social networking communities on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.
About Panama City Beach:
Panama City Beach is situated on 27 miles of sugar-white sand beaches bordering clear, emerald-green waters where the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrew Bay converge. With more than 300 days of sunshine annually and attractions such as St. Andrews State Park and Pier Park, the region has long been favored by travelers seeking an affordable beach vacation with year-round offerings for families, couples, groups and adventure-seekers. These include championship golf courses, spas, sporting events, award-winning dining and diverse recreational activities. Panama City Beach recently opened the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, offering non-stop flights on Delta Airlines and Southwest Airlines.
For more information, call 1-800-PCBEACH (850-233-6503) or visit the official Web site of the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau, http://www.visitpanamacitybeach.com. You can now follow us on Twitter @PCBeach to receive up the minute news and details on special offers and deals.
###
Media Contacts:
Susan Estler
Panama City Beach CVB
850-233-5070 / sestler@visitpanamacitybeach.com
Gina Stouffer / Heidi Barfels
Lou Hammond & Associates
561-655-3936 / ginag@lhammond.com / heidib@lhammond.com
