MARKETING OUTLOOK FORUM 2024

AWARDS

The Marketing Outlook Forum awards program was developed to encourage and recognize excellence in the field of travel and tourism marketing. Entrants are judged on quality, originality, creativity, usefulness, results, and benefits to the travel and tourism industry.

The 2024 MOF Awards are now open for submissions. Consider nominating a valued industry colleague who has made a difference!

The MOF Awards Program offers a wonderful opportunity to receive recognition from and among your peers! The awards will be presented at the Forum in Houston, Texas, on Tuesday, January 30, 2024.

Celebrating Excellence: MOF 2024 Award Winners Announced!

Cheryl SChutz Award
for Destination marketing
and research excellence

The Cheryl Schutz Award for Destination Marketing and Research Excellence recognizes a practitioner or their DMO for research that resulted or contributed to key decisions or actions for their organization and/or its constituents.

The recipient will receive a plaque, complimentary registration to the TTRA International Conference, and a $200 gift card.

CRITERIA:

Submissions for award consideration must include the following information:

  • The recipient must be a tourism practitioner or DMO in good standing in the travel and tourism industry and submit a 1-2 page summary outlining: the issue being addressed; the research designed or used to address the issue (may be original or licensed from a third party research or research by a third party to which you had input); the outcome of the research; the decisions that were made, money that was saved or revenue that was earned based on the research.
  • A reference from someone in the organization who will be able to independently verify the impact of this work must be included.
 

WINNER:

Michel Dubreuil, Research Manager at Destination Canada, is honored with this prestigious award for his significant contributions to Canada’s global brand growth. The award selection was unanimous and recognizes Michel’s significant contributions to Canada’s GDP and job market through his role at Destination Canada. Michel will receive the award at the MOF on January 30, along with a one-year organizational membership and a $500 prize

J. Desmond Slattery
Professional Marketing Award

The J. Desmond Slattery Professional Marketing Award is presented to the travel marketing professional who has made a significant contribution to travel and tourism marketing either nationally OR within their state OR for their destination.

REQUIREMENTS:

  • The nominee must be a professional employed in the travel marketing industry.
  • Self-nominations are allowed as well as colleague nominations.
  • The nominee is not required to be a current TTRA member.
  • The person nominated will be judged on their contributions to the industry. Any programs, projects, or events for which they were responsible will be judged on their originality, creativity, clarity of message, outcomes or results, and overall marketing excellence.
  • An entry for this award may not be submitted for any other TTRA award.

 

CRITERIA:

Submissions for award consideration must include the following information:

A descriptive narrative of the background of the person nominated with information on any marketing-related program, project, or activity for which they were ultimately responsible with the attributes listed above.
This work should have been completed between January 1, 2021, and the present. However, we do recognize that results for this time frame might not yet be available. Therefore, since this can also be an award for their efforts over the course of time, results for the past three years (January 2020-present) may also be submitted.
Include supportive materials such as DVDs, posters, print advertising, etc. (any evidence of the nominee’s role in the project).

 

AWARDS RECIPIENT:

TTRA wishes to recognize the award winner with a plaque, complimentary registration to Marketing Outlook Forum (attendance is expected), and a one-year TTRA membership.

 

WINNER:

John Ricks, Executive Director of the Nebraska Tourism Commission, is recognized for his long tenure of accomplishments and support of industry research. His campaign “Nebraska. Honestly, it’s not for everyone” has driven significant visitor spending and tax revenue to Nebraska. John will receive a complimentary MOF registration, a plaque, a one-year Premier Membership, and a $250 gift card.

 

 

John & Joan Markham
Tourism Marketing Award

This award was established in honor of John and Joan Markham. John has provided over 30 years of dedicated service as the financial planner and treasurer for the Travel and Tourism Research Association. With Joan at his side, the two of them have been unfaltering in their support for TTRA over the years and are forever committed to its success. John’s impressive financial plan has seen TTRA safely through some formidable financial years.

REQUIREMENTS:

  • The nominee must be an undergraduate or master’s level student (not a doctoral student) between January 2022 and December 2022.
  • Although membership in TTRA is NOT a requirement, membership in any research organization should be noted.
 

CRITERIA:

Submissions for award consideration must include the following information:

  • Submit a five-page paper responding to:
    • What are the trends likely to influence destinations over the next 20 years?
    • How can destination marketing organizations best respond to those trends? The paper must focus on future trends and a tourism marketing response. This paper must be completed by the award submission deadline.
  • Include two (2) recommendation letters from 2 different professors.
 

AWARDS RECIPIENT:

The award winner will receive a one-year student membership, a complimentary conference registration to Marketing Outlook Forum, and paid travel expenses, including airfare, ground transportation (shuttle), and hotel accommodations. A check for $150 and a plaque will be presented to the winner. Round-trip travel to the MOF and lodging arrangements will be made and paid for by the Travel and Tourism Research Association. (Attendance is expected.)


WINNER:

Thomas Ridley from North Carolina State University’s Park Recreation and Tourism Management Department is the proud recipient. Dr. Whitney Knollenberg’s glowing recommendation highlighted Thomas’s exceptional work. He will receive complimentary MOF registration, a plaque, a one-year student membership, and travel accommodations.

Emerging Leader
Rising Star Award

The Rising Star Award is presented to an emerging leader (formerly known as a young professional) employed in the travel and tourism industry. TTRA wishes to recognize this person for their commitment to increasing his/her expertise in the industry, demonstrated leadership abilities, and outstanding accomplishments that have added value to travel and tourism.

REQUIREMENTS:

  • Emerging Leaders (early-career or new to the industry) who match the above-listed attributes must be nominated by a current TTRA member or member organization.
  • No self-nominations are allowed.
  • Nominees must have worked in the travel and tourism industry for at least one year.
 

CRITERIA:

To nominate a deserving person for award consideration, please submit the following information:

  • A summary document detailing why this nominee should be considered for the award includes at least three examples of the above attributes (commitment, leadership, accomplishments) for the period covering January 1, 2022, to the present.
  • Include supportive materials that reflect the listed attributes, such as resumes, press releases, recommendation letters, and links to programs or events.
 
 

WINNER:

Ann Savage, Tourism Extension Associate at NC State University, is celebrated for her leadership both within her university and the broader industry. Her innovative projects and significant industry contributions have been recognized. Ann will receive complimentary MOF registration and accommodation, a plaque, and one year premiere membership.

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