Presented by
Shop America Alliance,
U.S. Cultural & Heritage Tourism Marketing Council
February 8, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Sheila Armstrong
ONETravelConference.com
843.341.6392
SASI-ONE 2012 Award Winners Honored at Annual
ONE Travel Conference for Shopping, Dining & Cultural Tourism
Costa Mesa, California. A total of 30 SASI-ONE Awards (SASI = Shop America Salutes Innovation) for shopping and cultural tourism marketing excellence were presented at the SASI-ONE Awards Breakfast Thursday, February 7 during the ONE Travel Conference at the Westin South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, California. The awards are sponsored by CenterCal Properties in partnership with Shop America Alliance and the U.S. Cultural & Heritage Tourism Marketing Council. Brandace Bruning, with CenterCal Properties, serves as the SASI-ONE Awards Chairperson.
SASI-ONE Awards recognize prominent leaders in the tourism industry for their vision and commitment to developing shopping and cultural tourism. Along with the 14 SASI-ONE Gold Awards and 12 SASI-ONE Merit Awards for shopping and cultural tourism marketing excellence, 4 SASI-ONE Special Award Recipients were honored in the categories of Shopping Tourism Partner of the Year, TravMedia Tourism Journalist of the Year, Cultural & Heritage Tourism Destination of the Year and the SASI-ONE Chairman’s Award. The achievements of SASI-ONE Winners from throughout the USA, Mexico and Latin America and the winners of the special awards were showcased in a video presentation.
A prestigious panel of judges coordinated by the Bloomington Minnesota Convention and Visitors Bureau selected the 14 SASI-ONE GOLD WINNERS and 12 SASI-ONE Merit award winners. The judges were Jan Kroells, Bloomington, Minnesota Convention & Visitors Bureau; Doug Killian, Mall of America; Gayle Junnila, Explore Minnesota; Bill Von Bank, Minnesota Zoo; Joel Schettler, Greenspring Media Group and Scott Bolin, Bolin Marketing.
Jake Steinman, founder and CEO of North American Journeys, was honored as the Shopping Tourism Partner of the Year award. In 1992, Steinman launched Active America Summit, the forerunner to North American Journeys, following an 18-year career as co-founder and publisher of a chain of regional sports and recreation travel magazines. In addition to his duties as president and C.E.O. of www.thetouroperator.com and North American Journeys, Steinman is the Editor-in-Chief of two industry newsletters—Inbound and The Destination Marketer—as well as chairman and founder of Active America China, E-Tourism Summit, and the NAJ Tour Operators Summits West and East. “These successful travel trade events, particularly Active America China, serve to promote and showcase Shopping Tourism to international visitors,” noted, Rosemary McCormick, President of Shop America Alliance, who presented the award.
The TravMedia Tourism Journalist of the Year honoree was Spud Hilton, an award winning travel editor of the San Francisco Chronicle. Having traveled and reported about destination on six continents, Hilton’s writings have earned him seven SATW Lowell Thomas Awards and have appeared in more than 60 newspapers in North America. Hilton is also the founding editor of the Bad Latitude travel Blog and Bad Latitude TV, where he produces 60-Second Travel Tip videos that have been featured by Peter Greenberg, Rudy Maza and This Week in Travel. Hilton lectures on travel and travel writing, including for the Society of American Travel Writers, Travel Bloggers Exchange (TBEX) and Public Relations Society of America, and he teaches travel and feature writing at the prestigious Book Passage Travel Food and Photography Conference. TravMedia, an international news distribution service company, sponsors the tourism journalist award. Dominka Dryjski, Global Communications Director of TravMedia presented the award on behalf of the organization.
George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the most popular historic home in America, was honored as the Cultural & Heritage Tourism Destination of the Year, in recognition of their leadership, marketing creativity and dedication to promoting cultural and heritage tourism. The U.S. Cultural & Heritage Tourism Marketing Council sponsored this prestigious award. Richard Peterson, Director of Travel Industry Sales for the California Academy of Sciences, recipient of the 2010 award, presented the award to Rebecca Aloisi, Vice President of Marketing for George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
Brandace Bruning, the SASI-ONE Awards Chairperson, recognized the Segerstrom Family, owners of South Coast Plaza as the recipient of the SASI-ONE Chairman’s Award. Werner Escher, South Coast Plaza’s Executive Director of Domestic & International Market, accepted the award on their behalf. In presenting the award, Bruning said, “The Segerstrom Family has been incredibly successful in establishing South Coast Plaza as a premier shopping destination for domestic and international visitors.”
SASI-ONE 2012 GOLD Award Winners:
Category: Single Shopping Center Location
International Tourism Marketing Campaign
Westfield San Francisco
Honorees: Amy Benson, Senior Marketing Manager, Heather Almond, Regional Vice President, Westfield San Francisco Centre; Kathy Anderson, President, Anderson Retail Tourism Marketing
Hockey Moms
Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls USA
Honorees: Julie Clark, Marketing Director, Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls USA; Ann Ackerman, VP Marketing, AWE Talisman; Golite; Sheraton at the Falls Niagara Falls NY; Greater Toronto Hockey League; Phil Newsome, Telescope Marketing
Back to School Bash 2012
The Outlet Shops of Grand River
Honorees: Christine Szalay, VP and General Manager, The Outlet Shops of Grand River;
Infinittee Advertising Agency; KC Projects; JAMM Entertainment; Tracy James, Fashion Consultant, Teen Vogue; The Vibe 99.5; McCulloch and Company
Category: Multi-Center Shopping Center
Fashionistas en Las Vegas
General Growth Properties – Las Vegas
Honorees: Janet LaFevre, Senior Marketing Manager, The Grand Canal Shoppes and The Shoppes at The Palazzo, Susan Houck, Senior Vice President Marketing, General Growth Properties; Connie Dyer, Vice President of Marketing, General Growth Properties West, James McMichael, Senior Marketing Manager, Fashion Show; Kathy Anderson, Anderson Retail Tourism Marketing; Barbara Jackson, Jackson Marketing International; The Venetian and The Palazzo Resorts;Travelocity; Rodrigo Cobo, Director for Mexico and Latin America; Miguel Angel Perez, Director, Ofertas Turisticas
Club Estrellas Electronic Media: The One Source to Reach Mexican Nationals
General Growth Properties: North Star and The Shops at La Cantera
Honorees: Michelle Robertson, Donald Wearden, North Star and The Shops at La Cantera; Susan Houck, Senior Vice President Marketing, General Growth Properties; Connie Dyer, Vice President of Marketing, General Growth Properties West
AGAINST ALL ODDS – Outlets of Colorado
Outlets of Colorado/Craig Realty Group
Honoree: Peggy Ziglin, Tourism and Business Development Director, Craig Realty Group
Category: Destination Management Organization
Laguna Beach Travel Info Mobile App
Laguna Beach Visitors & Conference Bureau
Honorees: Judy Bijlani, President & CEO, Ashley Johnson, Marketing Director, Laguna Beach Visitors & Conference Bureau; Joe Falcone, App Developer, Phondini Partners; Brad Feldman, Autonomy (an HP Company)
Jacky Bracamontes – Mexico Spokesperson & Brand Ambassador for Visit California
Visit California
Honorees: Caroline Beteta, President & CEO, Visit California; Global Marketing & Sales, Inc. (Visit California – Mexico); MeringCarson
Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining
Visit Orlando
Honoree: Nancy Hahn Bono, Senior Director, Global Development, Visit Orlando
Cheers to our Heritage – Culinary and Agritourism
Durango Area Tourism Office
Honorees: Heather Knight, Anne Klein, Emily McConnell, Linda Illsley, Durango Area Tourism Office; Laura Grey, Colorado Tourism Office
“The Planner” – Digital Lifestyle Publication for Meeting and Group Planners
Bloomington MN Convention and Visitors Bureau, Destination Bloomington
Honoree: Jan Kroells, Vice President of Marketing, Bloomington Convention & Visitors Bureau
Category: Travel Partner
What Motivates YOU to Travel?
Wellness Tourism Worldwide
Camille Hoheb, Founder; Rachel Permuth Levine, PhD, survey design contributor & researcher
Data is Delightful!
TaxFree Shopping Ltd.
Honorees: Carolyn T. Petty, Tax Free Shopping Ltd.; Vaz Tekerian, Essential USA Magazine; Estella Martinez Stuart, Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau; Anne Skipper, Jason McAllister, Wildcatter Ranch; Stephanie Abernathy, NorthPark Center; Jim Anderson, Jessica Robertson, Galleria Dallas; Mary Motsenbocker, Bob Rebello, Go West Summit; Oliver Yang, The State of Texas Department of Tourism
Shopping Tourism Training for the 21st Century
TaxFree Shopping Ltd.
Honorees: Carolyn T. Petty, Rick Tantlinger, TaxFree Shopping Ltd.; Brad Smyth, Diana Stevie, State of Texas Tourism; Jenny Harris, Collin Moussa, Galleria Houston; Adriana Jimenez, Online Training UK Division; Stephanie Abernathy, NorthPark Center; Martin Court, Texas UK Representative; Karen Fluharty, Rebecca Galpuppo, Paragon Outlet Shopping; Jim Anderson, Jessica Robertson, Galleria Dallas
Category: Cultural or Heritage Organization
Campaign Launch Interrupted by Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts
CJF Marketing International
Honoree: Carolyn J. Feimster, SCMD, President, CJF Marketing International
SASI-ONE 2012 MERIT Award Winners:
Category: Single Shopping Center Location
Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas—Red Carpet Program
Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas
Honorees: Teri Laursen, Regional Tourism Director, Robin Hanson, Regional Marketing Director, Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas; Ann Ackerman, VP Marketing, AWE Talisman
Category: Destination Management Organization
Print Media – Tour Venice Architecture Guide
Visit Sarasota County
Honorees: Virginia Haley, President & CEO, Lynn Hobeck Bates, Marketing Director, Visit Sarasota County; Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation; Joyce Waterbury, Larry Reinbach, Joe King, Stephanie Rule, King Architecture; Stephanie Rule, Graphic Designer; House of Maps; The Greg Wilson Group, Photographer; Coastal Printing Inc. of Sarasota; Bill and Sara Gill; Sarasota County Government.
Expedia Canada Promotion
Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
Honoree: Art Jimenez, Sr. Director of Sales, Las Vegas CVA and Shop Las Vegas Partners
MLT Vacations "Get Your Game On" Travel Agent Booking Incentive
Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
Honoree: Art Jimenez, Sr. Director of Sales, Las Vegas CVA and Shop Las Vegas Partners
MLT Vacations "Summer Sizzle" Travel Agent Booking Incentive
Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
Honoree: Art Jimenez, Sr. Director of Sales, Las Vegas CVA and Shop Las Vegas Partners
Macon-Bibb County Convention & Visitors Bureau Group Tour Planner
Macon-Bibb County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Honorees: Valerie Bradley. Communications Manager, Macon-Bibb County CVB; Kathy Hoskins, Penny Kojak, Bright Ideas Group
Macon-Bibb County Convention & Visitors Bureau Meeting Planner Guide
Macon-Bibb County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Honorees: Valerie Bradley. Communications Manager, Macon-Bibb County CVB; Kathy Hoskins, Penny Kojak, Bright Ideas Group
Category: Travel Partner
Go West Summit – 25 Years of Partnership
Birdsall Group
Honorees: Liz Birdsal, Birdsall Group; Mary Motsenbocker, Founder, Go West Summit
The 2012 Cultural and Heritage Traveler Report
Mandala Research
Honoree: Laura Mandala, Managing Director, Mandala Research
Vogue Travel And Shops Guide
Conde Nast Mexico and Latinoamerica
Honoree: Kelly Talamas, Editor In Chief, Conde Nast Mexico and Latinoamerica
SASI-ONE 2012 Special Awards:
Chairman’s Award
The Segerstrom Family, Owners of
South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, California
Shopping Tourism Partner of the Year
Jake Steinman, CEO, North American Journeys
TravMedia Tourism Journalist of the Year
Spud Hilton, Travel Editor, San Francisco Chronicle
Cultural Heritage Destination of the Year
George Washington’s Mount Vernon
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ONE Travel Conference for Shopping, Dining and Cultural & Heritage Tourism is produced annually by Shop America Alliance and the U.S. Cultural & Heritage Tourism Marketing Council. The Conference brings together leaders in the travel industry to focus on The Power of Partnership, speaking with ONE Voice. The 2014 ONE Travel Conference will be held at the Radisson Blu Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, January 29-31, 2014. For more information visit ONETravelConference.com or call 843.341.6392.
Shop America Alliance is the travel trade organization representing hundreds of the premier shopping tourism destinations, retailers, shopping centers, museum stores and outlets in America. Founded in 1998, Shop America Alliance co-produces the annual ONE Travel Conference and SASI-ONE Awards and The Cultural Traveler guidebook, publishes Shop America Magazine and markets more than 175 shopping tours in 40 cities. For more information, visit shopamericatours.com or call 707.224.3795.
US Cultural & Heritage Tourism Marketing Council (USCHT) is a travel trade association with the mission to market U.S. cultural and heritage tourism experiences. USCHT represents leading U.S. tourism destinations, attractions and travel partners engaged in marketing U.S. cultural and heritage to travelers throughout the United States and around the world, co-produces the annual ONE Travel Conference and SASI-ONE Awards and The Cultural Traveler guidebook and sponsors market research on the Cultural and Heritage Traveler. For more information, visit TheCulturalTraveler.com or call 843.341.6392.
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