And the MIDDY award goes to…
For the third time in its history and the second time in as many years, the Ohio Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus (OACVB) has recognized the results of a unique partnership with its highest award for Excellence in Tourism and Marketing.At a ceremony hosted by the Knox County Convention and Visitors Bureau on Sept. 17, the Wayne County Convention and Visitors Bureau received a first place MIDDY award for its 2009 Visitors Guide and Directory.
The award reflects the Midwest region of the country and winners are recognized for excellence in planning, creativity and effectiveness of message, concept and design.
The MIDDY award competition, which is currently in its 12th year, is open to all members of the OACVB, the statewide tourism industry association that serves as a resource for convention and visitors bureaus in Ohio to maximize the economic impact of tourism via effective communication, cooperative marketing, industry education, legislative awareness and trend identification.
Awards are presented in 14 different categories based on the size of the budget and the type of advertising material, such as brochures, Web presence, radio spots and print ads.
The Wayne County Convention and Visitors Bureau repeat win came in the category of brochures produced with a budget of less than $200,000, which, according to Marty Starkey, executive director, is by far the largest and most competitive award category.
Starkey said that a statewide award of excellence like the MIDDY simply wouldn't be possible without the unique partnership they have forged over the years with Wooster Printing and Litho.
The spirit of collaboration and the level of customer service provided by a local company like Wooster Printing wouldn't be possible using a large out-of-state printer, Starkey said.
"There are incredible benefits to having them right there," said Starkey. "They have been a great partner.
"Because of our budget and because we are so small, to do anything big we have to have a partner," said Starkey, noting that the partnership goes well beyond simple things like storing the 150,000 brochures the bureau distributes each year and delivering them immediately when they are needed.
The actual design process is a collaborative effort between Starkey and Wooster Printing designer Darren Raber. While Starkey and her team come up with the general concept for the piece, it's up to Raber to make that vision a reality.
Wooster Printing's Lisa Kauf also takes the initiative to contact the dozens of organizations and businesses that have listings and advertisements in the visitors guide, even going so far as to volunteer to man the visitors and convention bureau booth at the Wayne County Fair with her colleagues from Wooster Printing to help coordinate the effort.
"Marty and I have been partners for 15 years. We understand each other," said Andy Kuntz, owner of Wooster Printing. "In a true sense we have a partnership together. That's how we like to do other community things that we work with."
The copy of the award winning Wayne County Visitors Guide and Directory can be found in racks at most local tourist destinations or by visiting the Wayne County Convention and Visitors Bureau offices in the County Administration Building. The digital copy of the visitors guide is also available online by visiting the Web site at www.waynecountycvb.org, where you can page through an electronic image of the guide and even navigate directly to the Web site of advertisers by simply clicking on an ad.