Destination Marketing Association of North Carolina
2013-2014 Destination Marketing Achievement Awards
Call for Entries
The purpose of the Destination Marketing Achievement Awards is to honor and showcase innovation, best
practices, creativity and outstanding efforts/results in destination marketing in three award categories as follows:
TRADITIONAL AWARDS
Judged in groups based on bureau annual budget size; unless otherwise noted, submit only one entry for each subcategory.
A. Destination Print Advertising (hard copy submission)
1. Leisure (Consumer)
2. Group (Meetings and Conventions, Group Tour, Sports, Film, etc.)
B. Destination Constituents Communications (hard copy for printed submissions, electronic submission for
e-newsletter)
1. Newsletter/e-Newsletter
2. Annual report and/or other outreach program
C. Destination Publications (hard copy submission)
1. Visitor’s Guide
2. Niche marketing piece (printed piece that highlights a specific niche market such as meeting/conventions,
sports, group tour, etc.)
D. Destination Marketing Initiatives (electronic or hard copy submission)
1. Web based - This subcategory was added this year to meet the changing needs of web based promotions.
This category includes social media and website promotions.
2. Other Initiatives - This subcategory includes other projects not covered in the categories above such as
direct mail, video, advocacy, and special initiatives.
3.
Social Media Campaigns – This subcategory includes social media campaigns or contests
conducted via platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.
DISTINGUISHED AWARDS
A committee of three DMANC members will be convened to encourage nominations and vote on both the Destination Rising
Star and Barentine Special Achievement Awards.
E. Destination Rising Star (electronic submission)
One award given annually to a member bureau or staff member who has worked a total of 3 years or less in a
North Carolina bureau and has made an immediate significant impact to his or her organization and to
destination marketing in North Carolina. Nominations for CEO’s are made by DMANC members. CEOs
nominated will be asked to complete the attached form. Nominations for staff members are made by that
bureau’s CEO.
F. Barentine Special Achievement (electronic submission)
Named in honor of DMANC’s first president, Richard Barentine, this award is given annually to an individual
who has demonstrated both significant service to DMANC in helping to achieve its mission and is recognized
as a leader in tourism in North Carolina. Members should nominate deserving individuals from other bureaus,
rather than self-nominate someone from their own organization. The current President of DMANC is not
eligible for this award while serving his or her term.
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BEST PRACTICES AWARDS
There is no limit to the number that may be submitted in each of these award categories. These must reflect actual
programs and processes that have been implemented successfully. Submissions will be published in a Best
Practices Awards book distributed to members.
G. Destination Excellence in Workforce Development
Best practices in tourism professional recruitment, training, and retention
H. Destination Operations and Sustainability
Improved productivity, lowered costs, or other like initiatives that have increased the bureau’s sustainability
I.
Destination Stakeholder Relations
Increasing communications and relationships with key stakeholder groups
J.
Destination Community Partnerships
A cooperative project that may or may not include in-kind services provided and traded for overall destination
promotion.
Eligibility/Limitation of Entries
Participation is open to all members of DMANC. The submission process has been designed to be simple and
straightforward so every member can participate. Since the emphasis is on content, please do not utilize the
services of a communications company or ad agency to write, prepare or assemble submissions, except to provide
technical assistance in scanning graphics and making pdf files. It is acceptable, however, for communication
companies/advertising agencies to have been utilized in the actual production projects submitted.
All work submitted must have been completed in the time period from July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014. If
definitive results are not available for a specific project in time for submission in this year’s program, it is
recommended that you hold the submission until next year. Entries will be displayed at the NC Tourism
Leadership Conference, October 8-10, 2014.
DMOs with multiple or separate tax jurisdictions under their umbrella organization may only submit as the
DMANC member and their corresponding annual budget.
Awards Submission Categories/ Method of Presentation
Traditional Award Categories (A-D) – hard copy submissions with the exception of e-newsletters and website
promotions which should be sent via e-mail as a link to a recent issue or webpage. Please print out the entry
forms and mount on black or white poster board, foam board or cardboard (11” x 14” or smaller) with the item to
be judged mounted on the reverse side
Distinguished Award Categories (E-F) - please use the specific entry form in the packet and return via e-mail
with the category name and bureau name in the subject line.
Best Practices Award Categories (G-J) - please use the specific entry form in the packet and return via e-mail
with the category name and bureau name in the subject line.
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Methods of Judging
Traditional Awards are judged on a graduated point scale system based on their own merit and demonstrated
success in achieving the stated objectives. To account for differing bureau budget sizes, two or three categories
will be created to allow like-size tiered bureaus to have their efforts evaluated and awarded. The selection of
appropriate dividing points for these categories will be determined upon the number of entries and approval of the
Committee Chairperson. TMO will tabulate the score sheets. Platinum awards will be given for the highest
scores and gold awards will be given for the second highest scores in each category.
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Best Practices Awards are not based on budget size and will be judged blind (without knowing which bureau
submitted the idea). There is no limit as to the number of awards that will be given in these categories. Judges
will consist primarily of destination and other tourism marketing professionals from other states. Each judge will
work independently in scoring the entries, and the scores will be averaged together to arrive at a final score.
The Destination Rising Star Award is judged by the annual nomination committee.
The Barentine Special Achievement Award is judged by active members DMANC who are former Barentine
Award honorees and the nomination committee.
Award Submissions Display
To allow for maximum shared learning to take place, DMANC will display entries during the NC Tourism
Leadership Conference.
Important Deadlines and Timetable
August 18, 2014
Call for Entries
September 19, 2014
Entries Due
October 9, 2014
Presentation of Awards at the NC Tourism Leadership Conference
Due to the time that will be required to judge the entries, submissions received after the September 19th deadline
will not be accepted. Please make sure your entries are received on or by the due date. Send electronic
submissions to Vince Chelena at Vince@TheManagementOffice.com Please send each entry as a separate email
document with the category name and bureau name in the subject line. Mail all other entries to TMO: 1800
Camden Road, Suite 107, #213, Charlotte, NC 28203.
Questions should be addressed to DMANC, Vince Chelena (704) 333-8445.
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