Destination Mansfield - Richland County Honored
Wins Multiple Statewide Marketing Awards
Columbus, Ohio - Richland County’s tourism marketing & development organization was recognized for achievements in marketing at the Ohio Travel Association’s RUBY* Awards presentation, held Oct. 5 at Shisler Conference Center in Wooster, Ohio. Destination Mansfield-Richland County earned four awards in the statewide competition in the Travel Planner, Marketing Campaign, Print Ad Series, and Promotional Video categories. They were also a finalist in the Digital Marketing category.
Visitor Guide Wins Top Award
The Travel Guide & Planner category is one of the most competitive and the 2023 Destination Mansfield Visitor Guide took the RUBY award. In addition to stunning photography, the judges enjoyed the integration of resident profiles and noted that featured sections were excellent self-contained itineraries, making it easy for visitors to explore the area.
Three entries earned Citation of Excellence awards.
· The Marketing Campaign featuring the Ohio Bird Sanctuary used multiple marketing methods to showcase this treasured attraction including video, social media, digital display and print ads. It should be noted that three other campaigns featuring the B&O Trail, the Wine & Ale Trail and Buckeye Imagination Museum were finalists in this category.
· In the Print Advertising category, the “Space For” theme was effectively employed in a series of ads promoting things to do throughout the year.
· The Promotional Video also featured the Ohio Bird Sanctuary.
“It was exciting to have our fully-branded marketing work recognized among our industry peers”, according to Destination Mansfield-Richland County President, Lee Tasseff. “The new community brand was in everything we created. It represents the first time that things that were produced using the new brand, received recognition.”
“We were especially proud the judges not only recognized the integration of the brand into the Visitor Guide, but that the brand seamlessly worked to make it best in its class!” Tasseff added. “That was important. It is the single most prominent (and recognizable locally) marketing piece we produce.”
The Ohio Travel Association’s RUBY (Recognizing Uncommon Brilliance Yearly) Awards recognize excellence in Ohio’s hospitality and tourism industry for efforts in advertising, marketing and public relations. In this year’s competition, the RUBY’s sponsored by Ohio Magazine, had 236 entries in 17 categories. The awards were presented during the Ohio Conference on Travel, the state’s tourism conference for all sectors of the tourism industry. Nine marketing professionals representing academia, consulting firms and ad agencies judged each entry on the basis of overall concept, results and creativity.
“Competition for these awards seems to grow every year, and this year was no exception. We had a record number of entries,” said Melinda Huntley, Ohio Travel Association Executive Director. “Winners represent the best of the best in marketing strategy and design. It’s inspiring.”
The Ohio Travel Association is a non-profit association representing attractions, destination marketing organizations, hotels, museums, suppliers, restaurants, campgrounds and other businesses who make up Ohio’s $53 billion travel industry. For more information about the Ohio Travel Association, visit ohiotravel.org.
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Destination Mansfield – Richland County brings dollars into local economy.
An “award-winning” Economic Development Corporation, Destination Mansfield-Richland County generates money for our local economy (through tourism) and raises the profile of Mansfield/Richland County around Ohio, across the nation and parts of the world.
Tourism, the 6th largest employer in Richland County, supports 5,094 jobs with a payroll of $115.8 million, while generating spending of $243.3 million and Local Taxes of $11.6 million. A local employer of four full-time staff, Destination Mansfield-Richland County uses the talents of volunteers and interns to accomplish its mission. Its website can be found at the following Internet address: DestinationMansfield.com.