Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) has announced the winners of its 2008 Excellence in Marketing and Communications Contest. Donovan Creative Communications (DCC) is pleased to announce that client Edmonton International Airport (EIA) received several first prizes, including the contest’s top honor, the Peggy G. Hereford Award for Overall Excellence in Marketing and Communications.

In 2007, EIA partnered with DCC, who provided research, project management, strategic consultation and the new brand identity program. Edmonton International Airport received first place honors in five categories: annual report, website, press kit, marketing campaign and print advertising (color).

“It’s a great feeling for our team to be ranked by ACI with such great work coming out of New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Boston, Montreal and other big markets, especially since EIA is only the second airport ever in Canada in the last ten tears to win the Peggy G. Hereford Award,” said Michael Donovan, president and creative director of Donovan Creative Communications.

“To be recognized as the best amongst such a group demonstrates that our brand, and our EIA team behind it, is truly outstanding,” said Reg Milley, EIA president and CEO.

Donovan Creative Communications is the architect of the new Edmonton International Airports’ brand and brand strategy, of which several of this year’s ACI award-winning entries were a part. Last year, at the 2007 ACI awards, DCC helped EIA win First Prize in the Partnering with Carriers category with the ‘Closer to Home – Non-stop to London’ marketing campaign.

One of the fastest-growing airports in Canada, EIA is undergoing a $1.1-billion expansion and extensive rebranding process to align premium service quality with strategic business objectives. This growth is connected to Alberta’s record-setting economy which is fueled by massive tourism and worker migration and hundreds of billions of dollars worth of investment in the resource-rich northwest.

The Peggy G. Hereford award is widely recognized throughout the airport industry as the highest honor an airport can earn in the marketing and communications field. The award recognizes creativity in illustrating the airport’s message, effectiveness in connecting with audiences and the overall scope of the airport’s effort in marketing and public relations.

This year, 62 airports and airport authorities from the United States and Canada submitted 300 entries in the contest, which distributes awards in 20 categories ranging from brochures, advertising, marketing and public relations campaigns, newsletters, special events, video and film productions, to websites.

Donovan Creative Communications, Inc. is a full-service marketing and communications agency offering integrated services in market research, brand development, brand management, public and media relations, advertising and interactive and web development. For more information, visit www.donovancreative.com or the EIA website http://corporate.flyeia.com/news/archive/.