International competition salutes hospitality industry marketing excellence
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (March 2008) – The Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism’s “Taking Vacation Back” consumer promotion that focused on family vacations in 2010 has won two Adrian Awards from the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International.
One was a silver Adrian for the public relations and publicity work supporting the promotion, and the other was a bronze Adrian in the contest/sweepstakes category for the entire promotion.
“Taking Vacation Back” was designed and implemented by BOHAN, the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism’s marketing firm.
The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International is a worldwide association for the hospitality industry. The Adrian Award competition is the largest event of its kind in the industry.
“Taking Vacation Back” ran from April through July and offered progressively larger cash prizes and vacations to Pigeon Forge, a gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and home of the Dollywood theme park.
Its goals were to position Pigeon Forge as an advocate for family vacations and to reinforce Pigeon Forge as a prime family destination. The winner of the grand prize was a South Carolina family that never had taken a traditional family vacation.
“Pigeon Forge truly does believe that vacations strengthen families. ‘Taking Vacation Back’ was a huge success, and it is gratifying that marketing experts far outside of our circle recognized how well it was designed and implemented,” said Leon Downey, executive director of tourism for Pigeon Forge.
BOHAN has won Adrian Awards in previous years for Pigeon Forge, The Greenbrier, Beaches of South Walton in Florida and The Peabody Hotel Orlando.
