GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Wyndham Championship’s “Escape to the Wyndham” advertising campaign has been named the PGA TOUR’s best of 2012, it was announced today. The PGA TOUR“Best Of” awards were presented last night in Palm Springs, Calif. during the final evening of the PGA TOUR’s annual tournament meetings. The Wyndham Championship was a finalist in three of the 12 categories. The other finalist categories were “Most Fan-Friendly Event” and “Best Title Sponsor Integration.”
Aligning title sponsor Wyndham Worldwide’s marketing initiatives with the tournament’s mid-August date, a popular vacation time for families, the campaign positioned a trip to the tournament as an escape from everyday life or a mini-vacation for patrons. “Escape to the Wyndham” became the central message for all tournament promotions, appealing to fans and featuring the tournament’s defending champion, Webb Simpson, in creative images that combined a tropical getaway and a PGA TOUR venue. This theme was presented through the tournament’s overall look and feel to create a fun, fan andfamily-friendly environment. The advertising campaign was a collaboration between the Wyndham Worldwide marketing team and WilsonMcGuire Creative in Winston-Salem, N.C.
“This prestigious award is a tremendous honor for the Wyndham Championship, and it is truly the result of a team effort,” tournament director Mark Brazil said. “We accept this award on behalf ofWyndham Worldwide, WilsonMcGuire Creative and the Wyndham Championship team including our 1,600 dedicated volunteers. Building Wyndham’s vacation theme around Webb and promoting our PGA TOUR event was a lot of fun. We are extremely proud of this accomplishment, and we thank the PGA TOUR for recognizing our efforts.”
“Escape to the Wyndham” appeared in such locations as billboards, airport and hotel graphics,posters at local businesses, street signage as well as both print and electronic advertising. Upon arrival at Sedgefield Country Club’s palm tree-lined entrance, fans received leis and visited such vacation-themed locations as the Wyndham Beach, a professional sand sculpting display, the Wyndham Boardwalk andTiki Huts serving as information kiosks staffed by Wyndham Worldwide concierge personnel in tropical attire. In addition, the tournament hosted a “Tropical Wear Contest” at the Wyndham Boardwalk in conjunction with local radio stations Rock 92 and 107.5 WKZL, and golf carts driven by key tournament personnel were adorned with a tropical-theme wrap. “Escape to the Wyndham” activation was led by the Wyndham Worldwide marketing team.
“On behalf of the PGA TOUR, I am pleased to acknowledge and congratulate the outstanding job and special recognition the Wyndham Championship has received for its efforts,” said Andy Pazder, PGA TOUR executive vice-president and chief of operations. “Wyndham Worldwide and the tournament should be extremely proud that their “Escape to the Wyndham” ad campaign beingrecognized as the best among their peers on the TOUR.”
Contested annually on the Donald Ross-designed course at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C., the Wyndham Championship was founded in 1938 and is the seventh-oldest event on the PGA TOUR. The tournament thanks title sponsor Wyndham Worldwide, presenting sponsor BB&T and Premier Partners, Cadillac, Harris Teeter, McConnell Golf, Sunbrella®, Technology Concepts & Design, Inc. and VF Corporation for their continued support. Additional tournament information, including ticket packages and sponsorship information, is available at wyndhamchampionship.comor through the tournament office at (336) 379-1570. For more information about Wyndham Worldwide, please visit www.wyndhamworldwide.com.
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