Posted at 9:58 a.m., Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Ohana Hotels & Resorts ad campaign wins award
Advertiser Staff
Ohana Hotels & Resorts this month won travel industry honors for its advertising at the 2007 TravelAge West Western Agents' Vote of Excellence Awards in California.The hotel chain, part of Outrigger Enterprises Group, was recognized for "Most Effective Hotel Advertising Campaign" for its "Travel Like a Local" campaign that launched the new Waikiki Connection amenity suite now offered to all Ohana guests.
Ohana won the award category that recognizes the best advertising campaign for hotels and resorts. Outrigger Waikiki was also nominated as an Editor's Pick for best O'ahu hotel.
"The campaign was indeed a success in building awareness for Ohana and we're pleased to be recognized for our creative approach," said Tom Wakita, director of sales and marketing for Ohana Hotels & Resorts.
More than 250 people attended the awards program, held June 7th at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles in Beverly Hills. The awards give travel agents in the West the opportunity to recognize the outstanding qualities and services of their supplier partners and celebrate the best in travel.
The TravelAge West editorial team used a variety of methods, including first-hand inspections, online research and agent surveys to come up with a list of more than 100 companies in 48 categories that are the top suppliers and destinations in the industry. Companies received an "Editor's Pick" designation and the voting was then turned over to the readers to vote for winners in each category.
Ohana Hotels & Resorts and advertising firm Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown & Russell, Inc. launched the "Travel Like a Local" campaign in fall 2006 using print, direct marketing and online components to put forth Ohana as the quality brand of choice in the mid-priced hotel category in Hawaii "for consumers who want to experience the true flavor of the destination."
