About the Marketing Excellence Award
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums recognizes the valuable role that marketing plays in building and sustaining business and creating platforms to interact with our various audiences.
The Marketing Award recognizes excellence in marketing campaigns developed and executed by its AZA member institutions. The campaign must utilize a marketing mix with a minimum of three communication channels, such as television, radio, print advertising, outdoor, internet, direct mail, etc.
Two awards will be presented, one for a campaign with a budget under $175,000 and one for a campaign with a budget of $175,000 or higher. Entries will be judged according to how well the campaign met planned objectives, how communication channels were strategically linked together, and for the creativity and uniqueness of the campaign.
If there is any question as to what constitutes an eligible project, please email Rick Barongi, Honors and Awards Committee Chairman or call 713-533-6801.
How to Submit an Application
Download the Marketing Award application (in DOC)
Read the Guidelines for Submission (in PDF)
Remember to submit a Media Release Form with your application.
All Honors and Awards applications must be submitted in electronic format ONLY and must be compiled into one PDF file. Please make sure the file name reflects both the award name and the institution.
AZA has contracted with WEBCARGO to provide a quick and easy way for you to submit your application. Click here to send your application via WEBCARGO.
Take a look at the winners.
2012 TOP HONORS (campaign budget less than $175,000)
Virginia Living Museum for Protect What's Precious
2012 TOP HONORS (campaign budget greater than $175,000)
Brookfield Zoo / Chicago Zoological Society for Face a Real "Bear / Bull / Wolf" at Real Fan Days
2012 Significant Achievement (campaign budget less than $175,000)
Minnesota Zoo for Do the Waddle
2011 Top Honors (under $175,000 budget)
John G. Shedd Aquarium - Jazzin' at the Shedd
2011 Top Honors (over $175,000 budget)
Georgia Aquarium - Where Imaginations Go to Play
2011 Significant Achievement (over $175,000 budget)
CZS / Brookfield Zoo - Go Eye to Eye at Great Bear Wilderness
2010 Top Honors (under $175,000 budget)
Vancouver Aquarium - Canada's Arctic - Adaptation Is Not An Option
2010 Significant Achievement (under $175,000 budget)
Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center - Restless Planet
2010 Top Honors (over $175,000 budget)
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo - Journey of Life Campaign
San Diego Zoo - Elephant Odyssey
2010 Significant Achievement (over $175,000 budget)
Minnesota Zoo - If this looks right to you, it's time to visit. AFRICA!
2009 Significant Achievement (under $175,000 budget)
Knoxville Zoo — Dam Construction
2009 Top Honors (over $175,000 budget)
Minnesota Zoo — Russia's Grizzly Coast
2009 Significant Achievement (over $175,000 budget)
Monterey Bay Aquarium — Re-imagined Splash Zone
Vancouver Aquarium — If Frogs Go Extinct, You'll Notice
2008 Top Honors (under $175,000 budget)
Toronto Zoo — Bugzibitz II
2008 Top Honors (over $175,000 budget)
Tennessee Aquarium — Penguins' Rock
Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium — Polar Bears in High Definition