Nominations are now open for the inaugural ANDIES Awards, a new recognition program established by Anderson’s Brochure Distribution Service to celebrate excellence in print marketing across the outdoor hospitality and tourism industries.
The ANDIES Awards aim to spotlight the continued relevance and impact of printed marketing materials such as brochures, rack cards, and magazines.
Submissions will be accepted until Friday, November 21, with winners to be announced at the Campground Owners Expo (COE) in Branson, Missouri, on Wednesday, December 3.
According to Don Bennett, Jr., principal owner of Anderson’s Brochure Distribution Service, the initiative fills a long-standing gap in acknowledging quality print design and strategy within the industry.
“We haven’t seen many accolades being given in our industry for campgrounds or associations that continue to strive for excellence in their basic marketing materials — the print publications like rack cards or magazines,” Bennett said.
“We want to shine a positive light on print marketing because it still has a solid influence on travelers even in this digital age,” Bennett added.
Bennett also emphasized that printed materials continue to play a vital role in consumer decision-making. Citing data from VisitorInternational.com, he noted that brochures build trust and remain one of the most reliable sources of travel information for visitors.
“VI survey data shows that 72% of visitors use brochures, 87% keep them throughout a trip, 60 percent of visitors bring them home as a memento, and 98% of all visitors view brochures as one of the most reliable sources of travel information,” he said. “We hope the ANDIES AWARDS provides encouragement for business operators to continue leveraging print for their marketing outreach.”
Entries for the ANDIES Awards are open to a wide range of organizations within the outdoor hospitality sector. Categories include both large and small print publications, encompassing magazines, directories, brochures, postcards, and other marketing materials.
Awards will be presented across several classifications: small campgrounds with 100 sites or less, large campgrounds with 101 sites or more, small campground associations or corporate brands with 100 parks or less, large associations or brands with 101 parks or more, and Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs).
A panel of professionals representing the outdoor hospitality, tourism, and design industries will review the submissions. Judges will evaluate entries based on creativity, quality, effectiveness, and relevance to their intended audience.
Lori Severson, event organizer for the Campground Owners Expo, said she looks forward to seeing the range of entries and learning from the creativity of participants.
“We’re pleased that Don chose our event to announce the winners,” Severson said. “We all learn from each other, and I think our attendees will be inspired by the quality of marketing pieces we’ll see here.”