HSMAI to Honor Zehnder Communications with Three Awards: Best of Category, Silver Award and Bronze Adrian Award for Outstanding Travel Marketing
1/15/26
NEW ORLEANS - Zehnder Communications will be recognized for marketing excellence by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) in multiple categories at the 2025 Adrian Awards. The agency will receive Best of Category and Silver honors for Social Media, along with a Bronze Adrian Award for Multi-Channel Integrated Marketing category.
Now in its 69th year, the Adrian Awards is the largest and most prestigious competition dedicated to travel marketing. The 2025 awards recognize exceptional achievements across advertising, digital marketing, public relations, communications and integrated campaigns with expanded recognition in areas such as influencer marketing, reputation management, affiliate strategies and broadcast integration.
“This is a testament to a strong partnership with Walton County Tourism and a shared commitment to engage audiences through authentic stories that make the destination truly unique,” said Henry Chassaignac, CEO of Zehnder Communications. “Together, we helped deliver measurable impact for South Walton and its local partners.”
The Best of Category and Silver Adrian Awards will honor Zehnder’s social media strategy for inspiring a deeper connection with South Walton, FL through authentic storytelling. The campaign highlighted arts and culture, dining, outdoor recreation and experiences, driving strong social media growth, record engagement and expanded reach through influencer and user-generated content. Visitor research indicates that social media is South Walton’s most recalled promotional source, supporting repeat visitation and increased visitor satisfaction.
The Bronze Adrian Award recognizes In the Kitchen with South Walton, a video series created to elevate the destination’s culinary identity and drive visitation through a cuisine-focused lens. The series spotlighted award-winning chefs, locally sourced ingredients and the stories behind South Walton’s “Gulf-to-Table” movement, positioning the area’s dining scene alongside its well-known beaches while delivering early engagement across owned platforms.
“The Adrian Awards showcase the work that sets new standards in travel marketing,” said Brian Hicks, president and CEO of HSMAI. “This year’s winners represent the ingenuity and passion that continue to elevate the global travel experience.”
The Adrian Awards Celebration, to be held February 18 in New York, brings together top hospitality and travel marketing leaders and their creative partners for an evening of inspiration and recognition. Winning entries will be featured in the official Adrian Awards Winners Gallery following the event.
Visit adrianawards.hsmai.org for more information.
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