MCLEAN, VA – TripAdvisor®, the world's most popular and largest travel community, will announce the top 2010 winners of its eighth annual Travelers’ Choice® Awards at the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International’s (HSMAI) Adrian Awards Gala on Feb. 1, 2010, at the New York Marriott Marquis.

The Travelers’ Choice® award announcement is a new addition to the HSMAI Adrian Awards which honor the “best of the best” in travel and hospitality marketing in the categories of advertising, public relations and web marketing. TripAdvisor has recognized excellence with its Travelers Choice Hotel Awards since 2003.

“TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice winners have shown that they are dedicated to providing their guests with the best possible experiences,” said Nathan Clapton, vice president of partnerships for TripAdvisor. “The Adrian Awards gala gives us the opportunity to recognize the top winners at an event befitting of their achievements.”

Travelers' Choice winners are based on the millions of real and unbiased reviews and opinions about hotels on tripadvisor.com™ and content from across the web.

“We are delighted to have TripAdvisor as part of the HSMAI Adrian Awards program for 2009. They are a great addition to the prestigious lineup of specialty awards presenters that includes Departures Magazine, Google and TravelCLICK,” said Fran Brasseux, executive vice president of HSMAI.

Other specialty awards that will be named at HSMAI's Annual Adrian Awards gala include:

• DEPARTURES Magazine Luxury Marketing Achievement Award. This award is presented by Departures Magazine and chosen by an elite panel of judges who recognize the best award-winning print advertising campaigns produced for the luxury travel market. The Departures Magazine Luxury Marketing Achievement Award is selected from all HSMAI Adrian Award 2009 Gold Award winners.
  2008 Award Winner: The Leading Hotels of the World
• Google's Wisdom of the Crowd Award. Guided by a philosophy that states: "Focus on the user and all else will follow," Google is perpetually driven to provide the best possible experience for consumers. Similarly, Google's enduring relevance is guided by the preferences and actions of its millions of users. In honor of these principles, Google will sponsor this year's "Wisdom of the Crowd" award. Based on cross platform integration, brand impact and overall innovation, three marketing campaigns will be selected from the 2009 Gold HSMAI Adrian Award winners. In the end, Google's award winner receives the most important honor of all: top honors based on the collective wisdom of the traveling public and industry peers.
  2008 Award Winner: South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism
• TravelCLICK eMarketer of the Year. Presented by TravelCLICK, the leader in hotel ecommerce solutions, this award recognizes the best integrated eMarketing program in the hotel industry. Contenders will be judged on the strength of their web presence and booking performance driven by world-class online marketing, including website design, organic and paid search, and emerging online strategies such as channel extension and community development. The winner of the eMarketer of the Year Award demonstrates superior ability to attract and convert guests through the most effective channel, the web.
  2008 Award Winner: The Strathcona Hotel, Toronto

Winners will be recognized at the HSMAI Adrian Awards Gala, will be featured in an HSMAI article, and online in the Adrian Awards Winners’ Gallery. The HSMAI Adrian Awards honor creative brilliance and best practices in hospitality, travel, and tourism-related marketing. In its 53rd year, the competition has evolved into the world's most renowned and prestigious advertising, public relations, and web marketing competition specifically tailored for the hospitality, travel, and tourism industries.

For more information on the Adrian Awards competition please contact Desiree LaFont at (703) 506-3297, email [email protected], visit , or follow Adrian Awards news on Twitter at .

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, and bringing together customers and members at annual events, including HSMAI's Affordable Meetings®. 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, contact the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International, 1760 Old Meadow Road, Suite 500, McLean, Va. 22102; (703) 506-3280; fax (703) 506-3266, or visit the website at .

TripAdvisor is a registered trademark of TripAdvisor LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries.

Rachel Rosenberg
+1 404-832-7711
HSMAI