Las Vegas convention authority, Vegas.com win Adrian Awards

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority won a top honor and Las Vegas-based Web site Vegas.com won three awards at the 50th annual Adrian Awards competition presented by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International.

The awards honor creativity and best practices in hospitality, travel and tourism-related marketing focused in advertising, public relations and Web marketing

The event was held Monday in New York City. More than 700 industry and marketing executives and was attended. The winners are chosen from more than 1,200 entries from 36 countries.

The authority won a platinum award for Best Overall Advertising for a Destination for the "What happens here, stays here" television campaign.

The campaign, developed by Las Vegas-based advertising firm R&R Partners, was first launched in January 2003 and is entering its fifth season of use. A new television spot in the campaign, featuring a fortune teller, made its debut on Jan. 25 at Preview Las Vegas 2007, an annual economic outlook forum.

Vegas.com took home the most individual awards for a Las Vegas company winning two silver awards -- one for the advertising series "Do Vegas Right" television commercials, the other in public relations for Best Feature Placement.

The Web site company also received a bronze award for New Campaign Opening for the connoisseur desk at the Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, Calif. The desk, which debuted last August, helps Las Vegas-bound tourists booking last-minute hotel rooms, buy show tickets or arrange golf tee times while they wait for their flights.

The service has since expanded to Los Angeles International Airport and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport with plans to expand to additional airports this year.

Other award-winning Las Vegas companies were MGM Mirage, which won a silver award for New Opening Media Campaign promoting the Signature at MGM Grand, and Wynn Las Vegas, recognized with a bronze award in advertising.