Excellence in communication and marketing in the leisure industry in Australia and New Zealand has been recognised with the presentation of the second Australasian Leisure Management Communication and Marketing Awards in Sydney last evening (Thursday 24th August).

Acknowledging how the leisure industry - covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues - communicates how it entertains, enriches and improves quality of life as well as how it engages with consumers to generate business success and deals with scrutiny, the awards were presented at the end of a day-long business event at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium.

Commenting on the awards, Nigel Benton, Publisher of leisure industry business magazine Australasian Leisure Management explains “these awards recognise excellence among individuals, organisations, businesses and government.

“When done well, marketing and communications build a brands reputation and add to the bottom line of any business. At the same time, communications and marketing are also about dealing with crisis and standing up to scrutiny, something that several of our winners have had to face in the past year.

“The awards recognise a cross section of activities from international businesses to start-ups, industry icons and national organisations to small operators, showing that effective communications and marketing is not just for big operators, and is more about a commitment to sharing what an organisation excels at.”

Winners of the awards covered a wide geographical area, from Queenstown on New Zealand’s South Island to Western Australia, and from Melbourne to the Sunshine Coast.

Commenting on submissions for the Awards, which were presented in 14 categories, Australasian Leisure Management Editor Karen Sweaney stated “we were hugely impressed by the number and quality of nominations and entries that we have had for the awards ... we truly didn’t expect the level of response that we have received.

“What is wonderful is that these high quality submissions show the extraordinary level of professionalism and achievement in communication and marketing in the leisure industry.”

The 14 Award recipients received a simple trophy with, Sweaney explains, “an asymmetrical design that represents the different stages of the journey to achieve best practice with a pinnacle which symbolises that only a few can achieve award-winning excellence.”

Award winners

Industry Association/Peak Body Award
Fitness Australia

Industry Supplier Award
Technogym

Not-for-Profit Award
Royal Life Saving Society - Australia

Business Award
Eden Park

Local Government Award
Cockburn ARC

Government Department/Agency Award
Mount Hotham Alpine Resort Management Board

Ministerial Award
NSW Minister for Sport - Stuart Ayres MP

National Organisation Award
Netball Australia

Public Relations Agency Award
Southern PR

Communications Executive Award (Industry)
Greg Adermann, AEG Ogden/Suncorp Stadium

Communications Executive Award (Agency)
Trena-Louise Lyons, Newsroom PR

Social Media Award
Goldfields Oasis, City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder

Campaign Award
Royal Botanic Garden Sydney - 200 years and still growing campaign

Crisis Communications Award
Football Federation Australia 

Images: Award winners gather at the close of the inaugural Leisure Industry Communication and Marketing Summit and Awards (top) and Summit delegates tour ANZ Stadium (below).

17th August 2017 - UNDERSTANDING THE FUNDAMENTALS OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA TO BOOST YOUR BUSINESS

16th August 2017 - CVENT CONTINUES GROWTH ACROSS ASIA-PACIFIC REGION

14th August 2017 - SUMMIT LOOKS TO ENHANCE INDUSTRY COMMUNICATION, AWARDS RECOGNISE MARKETING EXCELLENCE

3rd August 2017 - OPPORTUNITY FOR FITNESS SECTOR TO MAXIMISE MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS EXPOSURE 

12th April 2017 - MARKING 20 YEARS OF ALL THAT IS BEST ABOUT LEISURE

15th December 2016 - INAUGURAL LEISURE INDUSTRY COMMUNICATION AND MARKETING AWARDS 

21st November 2012 - CONNECTING SUPPLIERS WITH BUYERS, THE AUSTRALASIAN LEISURE MANAGEMENT SUPPLIERS DIRECTORY 

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