finalists announced for ADME 2009 Achievement and recongition awardsIn February, the Association for Destination Management Executives (ADME) announced the nominations of the 2009 ADME Achievement Awards. Destination Nashville is nominated for 3 ADME Achievement Awards and 2 ADME Recognition Awards. Winners will be announced at the ADME Annual Conference on March 3, 2009, at the Westin Riverwalk Hotel in San Antonio, Texas. Destination Nashville is honored to be a finalist in the following categories: ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS "NASHVILLE IDOL"With the goal to provide an entertaining, interactive evening while showcasing the talents and “real personalities” of the contestants and judges, Destination Nashville’s version of “American Idol” was born. Ten employee contestants along with company executives portraying Simon, Paula, Randy and Ryan performed in a famous venue with full production, an all-star back-up band – they even had their very own stylist and backstage dressing rooms! Through laughs, great talent and new found camaraderie, this event fulfilled the client’s request and has become a standard event for all of the company’s future conferences. BEST RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY "BIG STAR BOOT CAMP"Destination Nashville’s Big Star Boot Camp “enlistees were given star treatment for the day. Emceed by over-the-top publicist, Mimi Moore, soon-to-be stars attended a “how to Speak Southern” seminar, received professional makeovers and enjoyed private photo shoots with a professional photographer. Upon completion of their instruction, they were put to task showing off their new looks and talents at an awards ceremony held in their honor on the stage of the famous Grand Ole Opry. As they departed upon the luxury coach, each with a glossy new headshot in hand, they truly looked and felt like “stars!” BEST TEAM-BUILDING ACTIVITY "AMAZING RED WAGON RACE"A take on the traditional scavenger hunt with a twist toward Corporate Social Responsibility, Destination Nashville created the Amazing Red Wagon Race involving sixteen teams in an Olympic themed competition. At each stop along the hunt, the teams performed tasks to receive part of a little red wagon. Once all parts were obtained, teams constructed their wagons then raced them against each other on an official track for final scoring. The real winners of this team-building event were the underprivileged children who received the wagons as well as the participants for giving back to the community. RECOGNITION AWARDS RHONDA L. MARKO, CMP, CMM, DMCPAn avid supporter of continuing education, Rhonda Marko holds her Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), Certified Meeting Manager (CMM) and Destination Management Certified Professional (DMCP) designations. She shares with us her insights…“I was good in sales, but never as good as Robyn or Tanya. I was a good operations manager, but never as good as Rita or Ansley. My real gift was, and is, finding talented individuals for the Destination Nashville team, and then letting them do what they do best.” It is this simple vision that has led her team to be one of Special Events Magazine’s Top 25 DMCs for the past four years. |
 |