Routes Americas Awards 2013 Winners Announced

AsiaNet 52090

CARTAGENA DE INDIAS, Colombia, Feb. 13, 2013 /PRN=KYODO JBN/ --

     San Diego International Airport Takes Top Spot in First Regional Heat of

2013

    Last night during a spectacular networking evening at the Plaza de la

Proclamacion in Cartagena's beautiful Old Town, San Diego International Airport

was announced as the winner of the first heat of this year's Routes Airport

Marketing Awards. Over 400 aviation professionals were gathered to witness the

presentation of the awards and to take part in the 6th Routes Americas - the

largest route development event for the entire Americas.

    "We are absolutely delighted to pick up the overall winner award in the

Americas heat of the prestigious Routes Airport Marketing Awards. We thank our

airline partners for the investments they have made in our community," said

Hampton Brown, Director Air Service Development for San Diego International

Airport.

    The Routes Airport Marketing Awards have become synonymous with recognising

and rewarding the highest standards of marketing activities undertaken by

airports. The 2013 awards will see a number of innovations including taking a

blended approach to the nomination process, meaning the final nominees will

include a number of airports who will be shortlisted using our online voting

form together with a number of airports who have been selected by a panel of

industry experts drawn from the airline network planning community. This year

the awards were split into three categories based on the size of the airport

and also a new tourism award for best destination marketing campaign by a

tourism authority.

    As overall winner of this regional heat of the Routes Marketing Awards San

Diego will be automatically shortlisted for the World Routes Airport Marketing

Awards which will take place at the event in Las Vegas, 5th - 8th October 2013.

    San Diego were also named as the winner from the 4-20 million passengers

category with George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston honoured from the

over 20 million passengers category. From the under 4 million passengers

category Queen Beatrix International Airport, Aruba were ranked top and the

Tourism Award went to Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau.

    Nigel Mayes VP & Commercial, Routes commented: "We would like to

congratulate all of the winners and highly commended airports and tourism

authorities in this first regional heat of the 2013 awards. San Diego provided

an excellent submission which detailed a straightforward approach to air

service development and illustrated their partnership with its airlines.

Partnering with four airlines, Spirit, US, Alaska and Japan Airlines, for new

air services in 2012 is a fantastic achievement. We would also like to thank

our judges, who are all senior members of the airline network planning

community."

    The full list of companies shortlisted under each award category were as

follows:

    Over 20 Million Passengers

    - George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston - Winner   

    - Dallas Fort/Worth International Airport - Highly Commended

    - El Dorado International Airport, Bogota

    - San Francisco International Airport

    - Toronto Pearson International Airport

    4 - 20 Million Passengers

    - San Diego International Airport - Winner & Overall Winner

    - South West Florida International Airport - Highly Commended

    - Tampa International Airport - Highly Commended

    - Arturo Merino Benitez International, Santiago

    - Tocumen International Airport, Panama

    Under 4 Million Passengers

    - Queen Beatrix International Airport, Aruba - Winner

    - Lynden Pindling International Airport, Nassau - Highly Commended

    - Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport, Cuzco

    - Hewanorra International Airport, St Lucia

    - Owen Roberts International Airport, Grand Cayman

    Shortlisted Destinations

    - Fort Lauderdale - Winner

    - Mexico - Highly Commended

    - Aruba

    - Guatemala

    - Peru

    - Trinidad & Tobago

    Notes to Editors

    About Routes

    - Routes organises world-renowned airline and airport networking

events       through its regional and global Route Development Forums. Each

year, there is one global event and one regional event in Asia, Africa, Europe,

the Americas and CIS respectively. http://www.routesonline.com

    - Routes was founded in 1995 as part of the Manchester UK-based ASM

Ltd.,       a consultancy specialising in the field of route development for

airports.       http://www.asm-global.com

    - Routes and ASM were acquired by UBM Aviation Worldwide Ltd in August

2010.       From 1st August 2012 Routes, ASM and the Airport Cities Conference

and Exhibition become part of the UBM Live division of UBM plc.

    - UBM Live connects people and creates opportunities for companies

across       five continents to develop new business, meet customers, launch

new products, promote their brands and expand their markets. Through premiere

brands such as MD&M, CPhI, IFSEC, TFM&A, Cruise Shipping Miami, the Concrete

Show, the Routes portfolio of events, Airport Cities and many others, UBM Live

exhibitions, conferences, awards programs, publications, websites and training

and certification programs are an integral part of the marketing plans of

companies across more than 20 industry sectors. http://www.ubmlive.com

    Follow us on twitter: @Routesonline, @TheHUBRoutes, @VictoriaRoutes,

@RouteExchange, @airlineroute

    SOURCE: UBM Aviation Routes Ltd