(Oklahoma City, Okla.) – A record number of Oklahoma’s tourism professionals gathered to honor fellow tourism industry leaders with RedBud Awards in 13 categories at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism.  Lt. Gov. Jari Askins and Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department Executive Director Hardy Watkins were on hand to announce the winners during a special gala held on Oct. 13, 2008 at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City. 

            "RedBud Awards represent the highest honor given in the Oklahoma tourism industry," said Watkins. "This year, we received 70 entries on behalf of tourism efforts from all across our state."

            Entries are evaluated by out-of-state judges based on criteria including customer service, marketing effectiveness, media relations, variety of audiences reached, value, and overall creativity. The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department partners with the Oklahoma Travel Industry Association to present the annual RedBud Awards.

            “It was an exciting evening recognizing the efforts of our industry, and a great celebration of tourism,” said Watkins. “There is no better way to showcase the diversity of travel opportunities in Oklahoma than by honoring the best each year and bestowing them with this award.”

            While convened at the Governor's Conference on Tourism, attendees spent two days learning about the latest travel trends, media technology and more.

            A full list of 2008 RedBud Award winners is listed below. For more information about Oklahoma’s travel and tourism industry, visit www.TravelOK.com or www.OTIA.info.

 

2008 RedBud Award Winners Include:

 

Outstanding Agritourism Attraction

RedBud: Shawnee Maze & Pumpkin Patch

Merit: Chitwood Farms

 

Outstanding Centennial Project

RedBud (tie): Guthrie Centennial Committee and Sam Noble Museum of Natural History

Merit: none for this category since there was a tie

 

Tourism Organization of the Year

RedBud: Stillwater CVB

Merit: Tulsa CVB

 

Best Brochure/Publication

RedBud: Osage Nation Tourism

Merit: (Three-way tie) Ponca City Tourism, OKC CVB, Oklahoma Aquarium

 

Best Overall Marketing Campaign

RedBud: Red Earth, Inc.

Merit: Stillwater CVB

 

Best Website

RedBud: Festival of Light, Inc.

Merit: RedEarth, Inc.

 

Best Sponsorship/Partnership

RedBud: Clinton CVB

Merit: Tulsa CVB

 

Outstanding Attraction

RedBud: Oklahoma Aquarium

Merit: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

 

Outstanding New Attraction

RedBud: Stafford Air & Space Museum (for their flight simulation expansion)

Merit: none

 

Outstanding Temporary Exhibit

RedBud: Gaylord Pickens Oklahoma Heritage Museum

Merit: Sam Noble Museum of Natural History

 

Outstanding Event

RedBud: Clinton CVB (2007 National Route 66 Festival)

Merit: Ponca City Herb Festival Inc.

 

Outstanding New Event

RedBud (tie): Tahlequah Area Tourism Council (Red Fern Festival) and Pauls Valley Chamber of Commerce (Pauls Valley Sesquicentennial)

 

Outstanding Feature Story

RedBud for Print category: Tulsa CVB

RedBud for TV story: Oklahoma Horizon TV

RedBud for Outsanding TV Series: Oklahoma the Beautiful (KFOR: Linda Cavanaugh & Tony Stizza)

No merits for this category

 

Special honor:

Oklahoma Tourism Ambassador: Oklahoma Employees Credit Union