OKLAHOMA TOURISM & RECREATION DEPARTMENT
NEWS RELEASE
May 9, 2012
 


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  Sandy Pantlik
Phone:   405-230-8402 or 405-990-4054 (cell)
Email:   Sandy.Pantlik@TravelOK.com
 
(Photos of Redbud award and merit winners are available upon request.)

2012 Redbud Awards Honor Oklahoma’s Top Tourism Entities
 

 
            (Oklahoma City, Okla.) – Oklahoma’s top tourism attractions, events, programs and organizations were honored during the annual Redbud Awards held Tuesday, May 8 in Oklahoma City.  The awards represent the highest honor given in the Oklahoma tourism industry.
 
Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb and Discover Oklahoma television show host Jenifer Reynolds presented awards to 32 winners during a special evening gala held at the Oklahoma History Center. 
 
            More than 100 Redbud entries in 16 categories were evaluated by a slate of out-of-state tourism industry and marketing professionals.  Judging criteria covered customer service and experience, marketing effectiveness, media relations, variety of audiences reached, value, and overall creativity. The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department partners with the Oklahoma Travel Industry Association to present the annual Redbud Awards.
 
            The Redbud Awards were held during National Tourism Week (May 5 – 13) which recognizes the importance of tourism to the national and local economies.  Direct travel expenditures in Oklahoma generate more than $6.2 billion for the state’s economy annually and support jobs for 74,900 residents.
 
           A full list of 2012 Redbud Award winners by category is included below.
 
2012 Redbud Award Winners
(Redbud signifies the highest award.  Merit is second highest.)
 

Outstanding Agritourism Attraction
Redbud:           Country Cottage Primitives and Lavender Farm, Shawnee

Best Social media Campaign
Redbud (Tie):  The American Banjo Museum
The Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum

Best Brochure or Publication: Trifold or Single Sheet brochure:
Merit:              Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism
Redbud:           Ardmore Convention and Visitors Bureau

Best Brochure or Publication: 11 pages or more
Merit:              Claremore Convention and Visitors Bureau
Redbud:           Frontier Country Marketing Association

Best Overall Marketing Campaign
Merit:              Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa
Redbud:           Muskogee Chamber of Commerce and Tourism

Best Website
Merit:              Norman Convention & Visitors Bureau
Redbud:           Summerside Vineyards, Winery & Meadery, Vinita

Outstanding Media Coverage: Broadcast
Merit:              Oklahoma Horizon TV
Redbud:           Craig Day, KOTV News on 6

Outstanding Media Coverage: Print           
Redbud:           The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tulsa

Best Partnerships
Merit:              Rodeo Miami
Redbud:           Arbuckle Simpson Nature Festival, Tishomingo

Outstanding Attraction
Merit:              Centre Theatre, El Reno
Redbud:           Oklahoma City Zoo

Outstanding New Attraction
Redbud (Tie):  Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Enid
                        Chickasaw Nation, Chickasaw Cultural Center, Sulphur

Outstanding Lodging Property
Merit:              The Lindley House, Duncan
Redbud:           Pine Lodge Resort, Grand Lake

Outstanding Temporary Exhibit
Merit:              Cherokee Heritage Center, Park Hill
Redbud:           Chisholm Trail Heritage Center, Duncan

Outstanding Event
Merit:              World Sitting Volleyball Championship, Edmond

Redbud (Tie):  Ponca City Herb Festival
                        Okie Noodling Tournament, Pauls Valley

Outstanding New Event
Merit (Tie):     Duncan’s Western Fall Fest, Duncan
                        Destination Claremore, Claremore Convention & Visitors Bureau

Redbud:           Legends Weekend, Stillwater Convention & Visitors Bureau, Stillwater

Tourism Organization of the Year
Merit:              Enid Convention & Visitors Bureau
Redbud:           Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau


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