Oklahoma's Top Tourism Entities Honored During 2015 RedBud Awards

May 20, 2015 - The Oklahoma Travel Industry Association (OTIA) held its annual RedBud Awards gala at the Oklahoma History Center on May 19, 2015. Open to all Oklahoma tourism entities, the RedBud Awards represent the highest honor given in the Oklahoma tourism industry.

Emceed by Lt. Governor Todd Lamb and “Discover Oklahoma” host Jennifer Reynolds, thirty two awards were given in seventeen categories. The awards recognize Oklahoma's top tourism attractions, events, programs and organizations for outstanding efforts to serve and promote Oklahoma’s tourism industry. 

Competition entries must have been produced, published, broadcast or held between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014. All entries were evaluated by a slate of tourism professionals on specific criteria including customer service and experience, marketing effectiveness, media relations, variety of audiences reached, value, and overall creativity.  

The winners include:

Outstanding Agritourism Attraction
RedBud: Orr Family Farm

Best Social Media Campaign
Redbud: Chickasaw Nation / Artesian Hotel, Casino & Spa
Merit: Visit Stillwater

Best Brochure or Publication - Tri-fold or single sheet
RedBud: Visit Enid / Ruth Monro Augur's Murals
Merit: Edmond Historic Preservation Trust

Best Brochure or Publication - 10 pages or less
RedBud: Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism

Best Brochure or Publication - 11 pages or more
Redbud: Visit Norman - 2014 Visitors Guide
Merit: Visit Stillwater - 2014 Visitors Guide

Best Overall Marketing Campaign
RedBud: Greater Muskogee Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism
Merit: Chickasaw Nation / Artesian Hotel, Casino & Spa

Best Website
RedBud: Chickasaw Cultural Center
Merit: Nowata Chamber

Best Partnership
Redbud: Visit Tulsa 2.0
Merit: Lake Eufaula Association

Outstanding Media Coverage - Television & Online
RedBud: KOTV's Craig Day & Todd Ruffin
Merit: RSU Public TV - Living Grand on Grand Lake

Outstanding Media Coverage - Newspaper & Magazine
Redbud: Edmond Convention & Visitors Bureau
Merit: Chickasaw Nation / Chickasaw Retreat & Conference Center

Outstanding Attraction
Redbud: Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum
Merit: Oklahoma WONDERtorium

Outstanding New Attraction
Redbud: Cherokee Heritage Center - Diligwa 1710 Cherokee Village
Merit: Chickasaw Nation / Chickasaw Visitor Center

Outstanding Temporary Exhibit
RedBud: Chickasaw Cultural Center - Dugout Canoes: Paddling through the Americas
Merit: Science Museum Oklahoma - The Science of Rock'n'Roll

Outstanding Event
Redbud: Magnolia Festival of Oklahoma / Durant Area Chamber of Commerce
Merit: Kaw Lake Association - Kids Focus on Fishing

Outstanding New Event
Redbud: Main Street Guymon - Azuma: An African Celebration
Merit: Orr Family Farm - Weather Round-up Day

Outstanding Lodging Property
Redbud: The Canebrake
Merit: Chickasaw Nation / Chickasaw Retreat and Conference Center

Tourism Organization of the Year
Redbud: Bartlesville Convention & Visitors Bureau

In addition to the RedBud Awards the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Jackie Stewart of Green Country Marketing Association. The award is presented annually by AAA Oklahoma and is designed to recognize a tourism professional who has spent decades working in and improving Oklahoma’s travel industry. 

“Jackie’s passion to serve and make the community and state better has been evidenced since the mid 70’s,” said Debra Bailey, President & CEO of the Oklahoma Travel Industry Association. “Northeastern Oklahoma has been greatly benefited by her 40+ years of service, and we are proud to name her as recipient of the 2015 AAA Oklahoma Lifetime Achievement Award."

3800 N. Portland Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73112
Privacy, Security, and Refund Policy
 
Website by Vieth Consulting