2012 Alberta Tourism Awards presented - awards showcase excellence across Alberta tourism industry
Excellence in Alberta tourism was celebrated October 22 with the presentation of the 2012 Alberta Tourism Awards, known as the “Altos,” by Tourism, Parks and Recreation Minister Christine Cusanelli.
The 2012 Alto Ambassador Award, sponsored by Calgary Airport Authority, recognizing an exceptional Albertan who has made an outstanding contribution to the Alberta tourism industry, was presented to Randy Bertrand of Devon. The Alto Awards Committee made the 2012 Alto Ambassador selection which was endorsed by the Strategic Tourism Marketing Council, the industry advisory body which oversees the annual awards program.
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2012 Alto Ambassador:
Randy Bertrand
Photo: L-R
Stephanie Dancause-Cote, Manager of Air Services Development, Calgary Airport Authority (award sponsor)
Randy Bertrand
Christine Cusanelli, Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation
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Alto Award winners in eight other categories were also awarded:
Alberta Pride (Sponsored by Legislative Assembly Office of the Alberta Legislature):
Ice on Whyte Festival, Edmonton
(Finalists: Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site, East Coulee; Canadian Badlands Passion Play, Drumheller
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Winner of 2012 Alberta Pride Alto Award:
Ice on Whyte Festival, Edmonton
Photo: L-R
Brian Hodgson, Sergeant-at-Arms and Director of Visitor, Ceremonial and Security Services for the Legislative Assembly Office of the Alberta Legislature (award sponsor)
Wanda Bornn, Producer, Ice on Whyte Festival Society
Christine Cusanelli, Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation
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Marketing Excellence (Up to $10,000) (Sponsored by Foundry Communications):
Tourism Red Deer - “2012 Scotties Tournament of Hearts Online Campaign”, Red Deer
(Finalists: Economic Development Alliance of Southeast Alberta, Medicine Hat; Town of Devon – Ride Devon Website, Devon)
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Winner of 2012 Marketing Excellence (Up to $10,000) Alto Award:
Tourism Red Deer - 2012 Scotties Tournament of Hearts Online Campaign
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Zahra Al-harazi, CEO and Creative Director of Foundry Communications (award sponsor)
Liz Taylor, Executive Director, Tourism Red Deer
Christine Cusanelli, Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation
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Marketing Excellence ($10,000 - $25,000) (Sponsored by Calgary Hotel Association):
Tourism Red Deer – Central Alberta Country Drive, Red Deer
(Finalist: The Studio Group Marketing & Communications – “Canmore Go Beyond”, Canmore)
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Winner of 2012 Marketing Excellence ($10,000 - $25,000) Alto Award:
Tourism Red Deer – Central Alberta Country Drive
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Leanne Shaw-Brotherston, Chairman of the Calgary Hotel Association (award sponsor)
Myrna Pearman, Tourism Partner, Central Alberta Country Drive
Christine Cusanelli, Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation
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Marketing Excellence (Over $25,000) (Sponsored by Brewster Travel Canada):
Calgary Stampede – “We’re Greatest Together”, Calgary
(Finalists: Calgary Zoo – “The Penguins are Coming”, Calgary; Sunshine Village – 2011/12 Social Media Campaign, Banff)
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Winner of 2012 Marketing Excellence (Over $25,000) Alto Award:
Calgary Stampede – “We’re Greatest Together”
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Michael Hannan, President of Brewster Travel Canada (award sponsor)
Karen Connellan, Senior Manager of Consumer Marketing, Calgary Stampede
Christine Cusanelli, Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation
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Marketing Partnership (Sponsored by Edmonton Airports):
Tourism Calgary & Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra – “Singing Tweets”, Calgary
(Finalists: Calgary Hotel Association & Calgary Zoo – “Penguin Plunge”, Calgary; Canadian Badlands Ltd. – “The Belles of the Badlands”, Drumheller)
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Winner of 2012 Marketing Partnership Alto Award:
Tourism Calgary & Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra – “Singing Tweets”
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Janna Tominuk, Executive Director of Edmonton Tourism (representing Edmonton Airports – award sponsor)
Jeff Hessel, Marketing Director, Tourism Calgary
Christine Cusanelli, Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation
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Service Excellence (Sponsored by Via Rail):
Stoneridge Mountain Resort, Canmore
(Finalists : Banff Heritage Tourism / Banff Life, Banff; Recommended Experience Business Program, Edmonton Regional Tourism Group, Leduc)
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Winner of 2012 Service Excellence Alto Award:
Stoneridge Mountain Resort, Canmore
Photo: L-R
Josephine Wasch, International Sales Manager for Via Rail (award sponsor)
Edward Keenan, General Manager, Stonebridge Mountain Resort
Christine Cusanelli, Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation
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Sustainable Tourism (Sponsored by Conseil de développement économique de l’Alberta):
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site, Fort Macleod
(Finalists: Rocky Mountaineer, Vancouver; Sinister 7 Ultra + Relay, Blairmore)
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Winner of 2012 Sustainable Tourism Alto Award:
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site, Fort Macleod
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Marc Tremblay, Executive Director, Conseil de développement économique de l’Alberta (award sponsor)
Quinton Crow Shoe, Site Marketing/Program Coordinator, Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site
Christine Cusanelli, Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation
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Tourism Community of the Year (Sponsored by Alberta Hotel & Lodging Association):
Banff Lake Louise Tourism / Town of Banff
(Finalists: Alberta SouthWest Regional Economic Development; Bike Town Alberta, Devon)
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Winner of 2012 Tourism Community of the Year (Sponsored by Alberta Hotel & Lodging Association):
Banff Lake Louise Tourism / Town of Banff
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Perry Wilford, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Alberta Hotel and Lodging Association (award sponsor)
Stuart Back, Director of In Resort Services, Banff Lake Louise Tourism
Christine Cusanelli, Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation
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Tourism Media (Sponsored by Village and Co.):
Lola Brown – “Come to Calgary”, Good Times Magazine, Upper Stewiacke
(Finalists: Ben Lerwill – “Dances with Bears”, National Geographic Traveller; Remy Scalza – “Meet Me at the Rodeo”, Canadian Geographic Travel, Vancouver)
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Winner of 2012 Tourism Media Alto Award:
Lola Brown – “Come to Calgary”, Good Times Magazine, Upper Stewiacke
Photo: L-R
Nora Ahern, Managing Director, Village & Co. (award sponsor)
Hala Dehais, Manager of Public Relations, Tourism Calgary
Christine Cusanelli, Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation
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The 2012 Alto finalists and winners were determined by independent evaluation by a team of 24 industry volunteer judges. The sold-out 2012 Alto Awards Gala was sponsored by the Calgary Herald, the Edmonton Journal and Global Television in Edmonton and Calgary.
For background on the Alto winners and finalists, please visit: www.industry.travelalberta.com/alto
Photos of the 2012 Alto Award winners will be available on October 24 at noon.
Media Contact:
Roberta Macleod
Specialist, Communications
Travel Alberta
403.648.1015
roberta.macleod@travelalberta.com