Las Vegas – The 50th national convention of the Society of American Travel Writers was the site of t

Las Vegas – The 50th national convention of the Society of American Travel Writers was the site of the first annual Aaron D. Cushman/SATW travel search sites Travel Public Relations Awards. The presentation took place at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas before an audience of 600 newspaper, magazine and broadcast travel journalists plus an assembly of public relations practitioners specializing in travel. "SATW has long recognized excellence among travel writers and photographers," said Milton Fullman, President. "With the establishment of this program as the premier travel public relations award in the country, public relations professionals will get the recognition they deserve." In keeping with the best traditions of Hollywood and television travel search sites (Oscar & Emmy) awards recognition, SATW has adopted an 18 inch tall statuette molded in bronze, silver and gold which the organization's Board of Directors has decided to name the, "Aaron". In its first year, the awards competition consisted of five categories and 13 award-winning entries as announced by Rose Abello, Vice President Public Relations, Holland America Line. BEST OVERALL MARKETING CAMPAIGN The Gold Aaron went to Virginia Sheridan, M. Silver Associates, New York for creating a major turn around for New York City's Chinatown following the devastating post 9/11 impact on the community. The Silver award went to Danielle Courtenay of the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Florida, for their "Family Spring Break" program. The Bronze award was given to Nancy Marshall Communications of Main for promotion of "Maine's Fall Foliage" season. travel search sites BEST CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM The Gold Aaron was given to Andrew Newman, travel search sites Stuart Newman Associates (Miami) representing the Florida Keys Key West. Newman was instrumental in organizing the successful evacuation travel search sites and return of tourists travel search sites to the Florida Keys following Hurricane xxx and subsequent positive publicity on the area's recovery. The Silver award was presented to Nancy Hamilton, APR, Communications Director, Lee County Visitor Convention Bureau and Wrenda Goodwyn Communications, agency of record for the Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel Lee County, Florida Visitor and Convention Bureau travel search sites for its hurricane recovery program. MOST EFFECTIVE travel search sites NATIONAL PUBLICITY PLACEMENT Lou Hammond, Lou Hammond Associates, New York, won the Gold on behalf of the Bermuda Department of Tourism. Her company capitalized on the home improvement trend and combined it with the Island's historic architecture to communicate that the Island was again open to tourism following hurricane disruption. The Silver Aaron went to Nancy Jo Friedman, Nancy Friedman Public Relations, New York for its "Ultimate Hawaii Escape" publicity on behalf of the island of Kauai. The Bronze award went to Lou Hammond Associates for work on behalf of the Turkey Culture and Tourism Office. MOST CREATIVE WRITING OF A NEWS RELEASE travel search sites Nancy Marshall Associates won the Gold for her program, "Finding Extreme Romance travel search sites In Maine" on behalf of the Main Office of Tourism. travel search sites The Silver award was given to Koleen Hamblin, Koli Communications for her "Offbeat and Outback" materials promoting Monterey, CA on behalf of the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau. BEST PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN Virginia Sheridan, M. Silver Associates won the Gold for the international coverage that surrounded the launch of Cunard's QM2 oceanliner. The Silver award was given to Nancy Friedman Public Relations for opening coverage of the Hotel Gansevoort in New York's Meat Packing district. Virginia Sheridan, M. Silver Associates travel search sites also won the Bronze award in this category for the "Zero G Experience", the first commercial weightless flight experience. The new award is named in honor of Aaron D. Cushman who has been a member of the Society for over 40 years and has held positions on most committees, served as Chairman of the Associates Council, travel search sites served as a member of the Board of Directors, received three Presidents travel search sites Plates and named a Marco Polo, which is the highest honor the Society of American Travel Writers can bestow. Cushman was elected to the College of Fellows of the Public Relations Society of America and was named the "Public Relations/Marketing Man of the Year" by the International Hotel Sales and Marketing Association in 1996. Founded in 1955, the Society of American Travel Writers was created to raise the standards of the profession, guard the freedom to travel travel search sites and encourage conservation and preservation of sites and natural wonders. The organization represents more than 1300 professional journalists, photographers and media relations professions in North America.
Headquartered in New York City with an office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, M. Silver Associates is ranked among the leading mid sized public relations firms in the United States. M. Silver Associates specializes in high profile consumer marketing and public relations, serving a select group of clients who retain us to position or reposition their organizations and products, create brand identity, travel search sites increase mind share and build consumer demand.