Fahlgren Mortine and Ohio Tourism Division Win National Tourism Award for Best Public Relations Program
U.S. Travel Association Honors Agency, State Tourism Office with Mercury Award
COLUMBUS, Ohio (August 12, 2010) – Earlier this week, Fahlgren Mortine was honored with the Mercury Award for the best Public and Media Relations program for a state or territory tourism office nationwide. The Mercury Awards, created by the US Travel Association’s National Council of State Tourism Directors, recognize excellence and creative accomplishments in state/territory tourism marketing and promotion. The annual awards ceremony was held during the Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations in Savannah, Ga.
Fahlgren Mortine executed a public and media relations program for the Ohio Tourism Division that took advantage of a number of unique market conditions in 2009. These included economic realities and the consumer’s quest for affordability/value; increased focus on drive-market/closer-to-home travel; and increasing use of social media/technology in travel planning. In light of the challenges, the media relations program was developed around a “Discover Ohio Deals” theme featuring specific deals, packages and affordable destinations.
As a result, Ohio Tourism Division marketing programs contributed to an estimated $36 billion in total sales in 2009, and Ohio experienced a 6 percent increase in overnight leisure trips over 2008. In addition, the 2009 media relations program significantly outpaced program results from the prior year.
“Through the work we do for various clients in our tourism practice, we’ve seen more and more travelers acknowledge the importance of value and affordability in making vacation choices,” said Marty McDonald, vice president and leader of Fahlgren Mortine’s tourism practice. “The Ohio Tourism Division program really emphasized and took advantage of the new economic realities of travel planning.”
The Mercury Awards are presented in 11 categories with one winner named in each area. There is only one category honoring the best in public relations each year. The program was created in 1985, and this is the first Mercury Award for the Ohio Tourism Division.
About the Ohio Tourism Division
The Ohio Tourism Division is the premier source of information for travelers and media about Ohio’s vibrant tourism experiences, attractions, and economy. Division marketing programs contributed to an estimated $36 billion in total sales in 2009 and 437,000 jobs sustained by visitors to the state. A part of the Ohio Department of Development, the Division’s mission is to promote and celebrate Ohio’s unique travel opportunities and market the state’s outstanding quality of life.
About Fahlgren Mortine Public Relations
Fahlgren Mortine, Columbus, Ohio, is a wholly owned business unit of Fahlgren, Inc. The firm, which O'Dwyer's ranks #22 nationally, offers the full range of corporate and marketing public relations services to clients looking to build brands, influence public opinion and enhance reputation. Work is local, regional and national in scope and includes consumer, business-to-business, health care and information technology sectors. Fahlgren Mortine, a member of the IPREX worldwide network, had $9 million in revenue for 2009 and employs 56 professionals. For more information, visit www.fahlgrenmortine.com.
Editor's note: Hi-res photos of agency executives and logos are available upon request.
Media Inquiries
Jenny Fuerst
Director, Corporate Communications
(614) 383-1523
jenny.fuerst@fahlgren.com