Travel marketing bureau grabs five awards

Competing against the world's largest and best-known brands and advertising agencies, Visit Tampa Bay was honored recently with five Adrian Awards for its work to promote Tampa Bay as Florida's Most diverse travel destination.

Visit Tampa Bay received the awards from the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) black-tie banquet, held Feb. 20 at New York's Marriott Marquis hotel.

“With the help of our industry partners, the Visit Tampa Bay team does an incredible job telling our story to potential visitors across the country and around the world,” states Santiago Corrada, president and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay, in a release. “Tourism marketing brings millions of visitors and billions of dollars into our community every year — money that supports jobs far beyond those in hotels and attractions. Visit Tampa Bay's work continues to make Tampa and Hillsborough County a magnet for conventions, leisure travelers and event relocations. Everyone connected to Tampa Bay's tourism industry can be proud of the work our team did in 2017.”

Visit Tampa Bay earned a gold, two silvers and a bronze Adrian for its 2016 marketing efforts.

The winning projects included a beer bloggers and writers conference; a video entitled, “7 Cocktails That Made Tampa Bay Famous”; the Craftober Tampa Bay campaign to raise awareness of the region's unique and varied craft beer offerings; a redesign of the Visit Tampa Bay website; and “Tampa Bay on the Road,” a culinary special event that coincided with the International Media Marketplace and the New York Times Travel Show.