MARIETTA, OHIO (Oct. 20, 2020) – Stonewall Group (SWG) and the Cambridge/Guernsey County Visitors & Convention Bureau (VCB) recently received recognition for their response to the global pandemic during the Ohio Travel Association’s Spirit of Ohio Travel state tourism conference, held virtually Oct. 6-9.
SWG and the VCB received a RUBY (Recognizing Uncommon Brilliance Yearly) Award for their demonstration of Spirit of Innovation for the video entitled “Hope” which was released during the shutdown phase of the pandemic this spring.
The 30-45 second video was created to provide hope to everyone quarantined and share a message of hope that one day we would be together again and enjoy the freedom to travel.
To view the “Hope” video, log on to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gO7WSifSL6w
“The leisure and hospitality industry was among the first to close its doors, among the last to open, and is subsequently the hardest hit in the Ohio economy. And yet, our businesses stepped up despite the hardships and lent a hand to those living in our communities,” said Melinda Huntley, executive director of the Ohio Travel Association. “Businesses in the travel industry responded to the crisis through not only shifting focus to supporting local businesses, but also through serving others. The stories collected through the RUBY Award process demonstrate the importance and impact of Ohio’s travel industry during this time.”
SWG produced the video and has served as the agency of record for the Cambridge/Guernsey County VCB for more than 18 years.
The Ohio Travel Association (OTA) received dozens of entries submitted by convention and visitor bureaus, tourist attractions and lodging facilities from throughout the state. Historically, the Ohio Travel Association’s Recognizing Uncommon Brilliance Yearly (RUBY) Awards recognize excellence in Ohio’s travel industry for efforts in advertising, marketing and public relations. This year, the awards focused on two categories – how the industry has served others and how businesses have pivoted during the crisis.
Founded in 1976, the Ohio Travel Association is the largest travel and tourism trade association in Ohio. OTA’s nearly 700 members include hotels, restaurants, attractions, convention and visitors bureaus and tour companies.