The HSMAI Top 25 recipients are seen on stage during the HSMAI Adrian Awards Gala 2015 at Marriott Marquis Hotel on February 23, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Thos Robinson/Getty Images for HSMAI) — Photo by HSMAI
Hilton Worldwide President and CEO Christopher J. Nassetta, recipient of Albert E. Koehl Award for Lifetime Achievement in Hospitality Marketing speaks during the HSMAI Adrian Awards Gala 2015 at Marriott Marquis Hotel on February 23, 2015 in New York City. — Photo by HSMAI
Geoffrey Weill, President of WEILL, recipient of Winthrop W. Grice Award for Lifetime Achievement in Hospitality Public Relations speaks on stage at the HSMAI Adrian Awards Gala 2015 at Marriott Marquis Hotel on February 23, 2015 in New York City. — Photo by HSMAI
HSMAI welcomed nearly 1,000 industry professionals to the HSMAI Adrian Awards Gala at the New York Marriott Marquis on Febraury 23, 2015 to honor travel marketing excellence. — Photo by HSMAI

The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) has celebrated the 58th annual Adrian Awards at the New York Marriott Marquis. HSMAI honored 2014's outstanding hospitality advertising, public relations and digital marketing campaigns before nearly 1,000 attendees.

"It was a great night to gather and honor the creativity in our industry and the people behind the work," said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHBA, president and CEO of HSMAI. "The greatness we honored tonight spans the spectrum, from digital marketing, PR and advertising to e-marketing, loyalty, sustainable tourism and lifetime achievement."

The Adrian Awards began in 1957 and consider entries from every segment of the travel and hospitality marketing industry, including hotels, airlines, cruise lines, car rental companies, destinations and credit card companies, among others. Winners are selected from a field of more than 1,200 entries by senior industry and media experts.

Gold Awards were presented to 46 winners in advertising, 87 in digital marketing and 130 in public relations. Platinum Award winners were selected from the most-outstanding Gold Award winners.

The gala's highest honor Best of Show was selected from Platinum winners. Best of Show Awards were presented to the following winners in the advertising, digital marketing and public relations categories:

  • Advertising "Best of Show" – Destination Cleveland – Cleveland Rebranding - and its agency MMGY Global
  • Digital Marketing "Best of Show" – Red Roof Inn - Turning Flight Cancellations into Hotel Reservations - and its agency 360i
  • Public Relations "Best of Show" – Tourism Australia - Reporting on OZ: CorOZpondents Campaign - and its agency Ketchum.

"This is an enormous opportunity for a city like Cleveland," said David Gilbert, President and CEO, Destination Cleveland. "We've battled image problems for decades, so we were thrilled to work with MMGY Global to show who we are and what we've become as a community. The results we achieved were one way to get verification, but certainly to be recognized by your peers is great."

"We are very excited," said Marina MacDonald, Chief Marketing Officer, Red Roof Inn. "This was really smart work, and it was a collaboration of great minds to bring it all together. We are thrilled to be recognized."

Platinum Awards were given to the following recipients in the advertising, digital marketing and public relations categories:

Advertising Platinum Winners: (Company, Agency)

  • Booking.com, Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam
  • Destination Cleveland, MMGY Global
  • Hilton Worldwide, Publicis Kaplan Thaler
  • Homewood Suites by Hilton, Van Winkle + Associates
  • SpringHill Suites by Marriott, mcgarrybowen
  • Utah Office of Tourism, Struck
  • Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, WHITE

Digital Marketing Platinum Winners: (Company, Agency)

  • Best Western International Ideas, Collide Marketing Communications
  • Coast Hotels, GCommerce
  • Hilton Worldwide, Publicis Kaplan Thaler
  • Holland Marketing Alliance, Mustache
  • Marriott Hotels, Grey New York
  • Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board, VERB Interactive
  • Red Roof Inn, 360i
  • VISIT FLORIDA

Public Relations Platinum Winners: (Company, Agency)

  • AKA, Ballentines PR and Quinn
  • Berkshire Hathaway, Travel Protection Mardiks PR
  • Destination Quebec, DQMPR
  • Embassy Suites Omaha - La Vista
  • Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Current Lifestyle Marketing
  • Marriott Marquis Washington, D.C., Laura Davidson Public Relations
  • MCA Namibia/Namibia Tourism Board Development Counsellors International
  • Premier Rail Collection, Lou Hammond & Associates
  • The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, Mfa Ltd. (Missy Farren & Associates)
  • Tourism Australia, Ketchum
  • Visit St. Pete/Clearwater, Paradise Advertising, Digital and Entertainment

Throughout the award gala, winners of Gold Awards were recognized and displayed in the "iPad Gold Gallery" through an interactive site designed by Sequence. Also during the gala, HSMAI presented its 2014 Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Hospitality Sales, Marketing, Revenue Optimization.

Two industry leaders were honored with HSMAI Lifetime Achievement awards. Hilton Worldwide President & CEO Christopher J. Nassetta received the Albert E. Koehl Award for Lifetime Achievement in Hospitality Marketing.

"I'm very honored to receive a lifetime achievement award," Nassetta said at the awards ceremony. "I continue to try and follow our founders' vision and fill the earth with the life and love of hospitality. I love what I do. I live to travel. I love to interact with our team, and I'm surrounded by the best in the industry."

Geoffrey Weill, president of WEILL, was the recipient of the Winthrop W. Grice Award for Lifetime Achievement in Hospitality Public Relations.

"As a young child and then as an adolescent in London, I had three great passions," Weill said. "One - everything connected with hotels and travel. Second – Israel. Third – New York. And I have been so incredibly fortunate to have been able to forge a life and a career that encompasses all three. And then to be given an award for it, is like an incredibly vast cherry on top of an even vaster chocolate sundae."

The fifth annual Leader in Sustainable Tourism award, presented by HSMAI and National Geographic Traveler, was presented to the Santa Monica Convention and Visitors Bureau. The TravelClick eMarketer of the Year Award was a tie, going to Best Western International and Qbic Hotel London City. Hilton Worldwide received the American Express Loyalty Award and the Yahoo! Yodeler of the Year award went to Marriott International.

For more information about the Adrian Awards visit www.adrianawards.com.

About HSMAI

The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) is committed to growing business for hotels and their partners and is the industry's leading advocate for intelligent, sustainable hotel revenue growth. The association provides hotel professionals and their partners with tools, insights, and expertise to fuel sales, inspire marketing, and optimize revenue through programs such as the Commercial Strategy Conference, Sales Leader Forum, and Adrian Awards. Founded in 1927, HSMAI is a membership organization comprising more than 5,000 members worldwide, with 40 chapters in the Americas Region. Connect with HSMAI at hsmai.org.