Queenstown’s Winter Festival scoops industry award

 
 
12 August 2010

Queenstown’s Winter Festival scoops industry award

The American Express Queenstown Winter Festival continues to gain recognition, scooping ‘Best Marketing of Event’ this week at the 2010 New Zealand Association of Event Professionals (NZAEP) TicketDirect Event Industry Awards.

The award, presented at a gala dinner in Christchurch on 9 August, recognises innovative and effective promotions that achieve marketing goals.  The judging panel was made up of industry specialists selected across various event disciplines throughout New Zealand.

Last year the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival won Best Established Event at the same awards for its innovation, rejuvenation, initiative, economic, environmental, social and cultural sustainability.

Festival Director Simon Green, Marketing & PR Manager Mandy Kennedy and Operations Manager Caroline Popple were on hand to accept the award on behalf of the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival.

“I’m extremely proud of our marketing efforts, headed by Mandy, which have achieved such great recognition by the industry,” said Mr Green.  “This year we had a smaller marketing budget to work with but we were able to use it creatively and effectively thanks to support from our major sponsors.  Our media profile also increased 62 percent compared to last year,” he said.

Destination Queenstown owns the 36-year-old festival and CEO Tony Everitt was delighted that the team’s efforts were once again recognized at a national level.

“It’s a fantastic result for the festival team, the event and for Queenstown.

“Winter Festival has always celebrated the start of our winter season but now, as the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest winter party, it’s grown into a world-class event and a key winter marketing tool which gives Queenstown’s national and international profile a huge boost.  Combined with the town’s collective marketing efforts, it helps us punch way above our weight.”

The Festival was up against Auckland-based festival organisers Splore Dynamics Ltd (Splore 2010) in the competition’s final stage, after entrants were whittled down from 37 entries from across the country.

The 2011 American Express Queenstown Winter Festival will run from 24 June to 3 July.

ENDS

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