MARYLAND OFFICE OF TOURISM CAMPAIGNS WIN 2024 ADDY AWARDS

BALTIMORE, MD (March 4, 2024) – The Maryland Office of Tourism’s agency of record, Marriner Marketing, won two ADDY Awards for Maryland tourism campaigns on February 29, at the annual American Advertising Awards. Marriner secured accolades both for copywriting and an integrated campaign marketing Maryland tourism.

The American Advertising Awards is the advertising industry's largest competition, attracting more than 25,000 entries every year. The mission of the awards is to recognize and reward the creative spirit of excellence in the art of advertising.

Marriner’s first award comes in the form of a silver ADDY for outstanding copywriting in the Maryland Office of Tourism’s Underground Railroad campaign, an initiative aimed at narrating the impactful, yet often overlooked, stories of heroes who shaped Maryland's history.

Along with this achievement, Marriner clinched a silver ADDY for its integrated "You're Welcome" campaign, designed to bolster the positive perception of Maryland as a tourist destination. Infusing a new tone into a fresh campaign, Marriner focused on key attractions and activities that define the state. The campaign served as a fun invitation for travelers and a reason to boldly showcase what makes Maryland truly unique, resulting in a 173% year-over-year increase in revenue generated. With an outstanding ROI of $23:1, the campaign set a new standard for success.

"Working with Marriner has been pivotal in achieving our goals. The 'You're Welcome' campaign strategically showcased Maryland's diverse offerings, resulting in not just increased revenue but also heightened awareness and positive sentiment toward our state," said Liz Fitzsimmons, Managing Director of the Maryland Office of Tourism.

“The success of the ‘You’re Welcome’ campaign and Underground Railroad initiative, coupled with the awards we received, demonstrates the power of Marriner’s strategic creativity. These victories represent our commitment to excellence and our ongoing partnership with the Maryland Department of Commerce's Office of Tourism,” said Jessica Painter, Vice President of Creative at Marriner.

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About Maryland Department of Commerce Office of Tourism
The Maryland Office of Tourism is an agency within the Maryland Department of Commerce. Visitors to the state spent $19.4 billion on travel-related expenses in 2022. The Maryland tourism industry also generated $2.3 billion in state and local taxes, essentially saving each Maryland household $1,000 in annual taxes, and directly supported Marylanders with 124,000 jobs. For more information, go to www.visitmaryland.org.

About Marriner Marketing
As a brand transformation agency, Marriner Marketing Communications has been a leader in providing integrated solutions for the food, beverage and hospitality industries for nearly 35 years. Customers count on Marriner for effective, Clarity-driven communications to champion the voice of the target and provide a competitive advantage. Marriner’s customers include such notable brands as Advanced Food Products, Butterball, Campbell’s, Enjoy Baltimore County, Frontier Airlines, J&J Snack Foods, the Maryland Office of Tourism, Nestlé, Perdue Farms and Post Holdings. Visit marriner.com or marriner.com/work to explore Marriner’s portfolio.