Awards of Excellence

TIA Yukon has completely redesigned its annual awards program. This revamp refreshes the attention the industry gives itself and it’s accomplishments, helps Yukoners champion their best and brightest and aligns the TIA Yukon Awards of Excellence with the national Tourism Industry Program through TIAC.

The Tourism Awards were presented at the 2008 TIA Yukon Spring Conference: “Pure Yukon – Pay It Forward” in Haines, Alaska during the Gala Banquet on Saturday, April 26, 2008.

The 2008 winners are listed below:

Sustainable Tourism Award
- Presented to a business that embraces sustainable concepts and implements them in its daily operations including a commitment to excellence and encouraging an appreciation of Yukon’s heritage, striving to achieve sustainable tourism development, and offering tourism products and services that are consistent with community values and the surrounding environment.Walden’s Guiding and Outfitting is this year’s recipient recognizing their commitment to environmental, economic and social tourism development. They have a long track record as leaders in sustainable tourism and were committed to sustainable ideals before people recognised as the right thing to do.

Creative Travel Media Implementation
- Presented to an individual or media business that has excelled in the field of travel partnership and journalism. The recipient of this award, Yukon Pride Adventure Tours, has provided outstanding participation in and/or support of Yukon’s travel industry by effectively promoting the Yukon as a tourism destination. Yukon Pride Adventure Tours used non-traditional partners including a call for Yukon models in exchange for White Stripe concert tickets resulting in national exposure with XTRA, local exposure In Yukon as well as international media exposure with OutTV of Australia.

Yukon Ambassador Award
- Presented under exceptional circumstances only to recipients that have demonstrated excellence in service, hospitality and/or product. This year’s recipient was a long-standing employee of the City of Whitehorse, Jeanette Bringsli. She has been the front line tourism representative with the City of Whitehorse and on her own time – because of her passion for the community, for tourism and for enabling exceptional experiences for all visitors.

Human Resource Excellence
- Presented to an operator or employee that has demonstrated a commitment to professionalism in the Yukon tourism workforce through professional recognition, training and excellence in human resource management or self-development. The recipient was Westmark Whitehorse. They have proven and well-established training and recognition programs in place and they are committed to standards in service and HR management. This is reflected in the excellent customer service provided to their guests.

Marketing Innovation
- Presented to an operator in recognition of a marketing campaign that increases business and enhances Yukon’s visibility as a superior tourism destination. This year’s recipient, Yukon Wide Adventures, has shown innovation by creating and actively marketing new product to Yukoners as well as to those outside the Territory. They are working with non traditional partners including youth from Germany and the North, environmental groups from Germany and Canada as well as film crews from Germany and Canada to undertake an innovative public relations/marketing project on the Snake River.

Outstanding Tourism Volunteer
- Presented to an individual who, as a volunteer, has demonstrated an outstanding effort in serving tourism locally, territorially or nationally. This year’s recipient, Harreson Tanner of Yukon Artists At Work, has demonstrated tireless dedication and commitment to promotion of the Arts and it’s inclusion in the tourism industry in tandem with his or her vision and skill will serve as a legacy for many years to come.

Award Descriptions

1) Sustainability Leadership In Tourism Award – Presented to a business that embraces sustainable concepts and implements them in its daily operations. Key concepts include:

Demonstrating a commitment to excellence and encouraging an appreciation of Yukon’s heritage
Striving to achieve tourism development in a manner which harmonizes economic objectives with the protection and enhancement of Yukon's natural and cultural heritage
Cooperating with colleagues and the tourism industry in promoting sustainable development;
Offering tourism products and services that are consistent with community values and the surrounding environment; and
Fostering greater awareness of the economic, social, cultural and environmental significance of tourism.

The recipient of this award excels in meeting the needs of present visitors and host communities while protecting and enhancing opportunity for the future.

2) Yukon Marketing Innovation Award - In recognition of a marketing campaign that increases business and enhances Yukon’s visibility as a superior tourism destination.

The program, campaign or project:

May be conducted domestically or internationally;
May promote tourism on a local, territorial/provincial and/or national level;
May include individual or combined efforts;
May focus on a package, destination, tourism or tourism-related business, public relations; and
May include: radio, television, print, outdoor advertising, electronic media, web, media kit, targeted promotional campaign and/or public relations.

Nominations will be reviewed in light of the quality of content, image, high levels of customer satisfaction with product on offer, campaign distribution and quantitative results.

3) HR Distinction Award - Awarded nominees represent businesses or employees that have demonstrated a commitment to professionalism in the Yukon tourism workforce through professional recognition, training and excellence in human resource management or self-development. The recipient is dedicated to achieving enhanced results through dedication to training and HR development.

4) Creative Travel Media Implementation - Recognizes the individual or media business that has excelled in the field of travel partnership and journalism. The recipient of this award has provided outstanding participation in and/or support of Yukon’s travel industry by effectively promoting the Yukon as a tourism destination. Any type of media, including both print and broadcast sources (newspaper, magazines, television, radio, film, internet, etc.) can be nominated. The nomination may include a long-term body of work, however, at least one work being nominated must have been published or broadcast between April 2007 and April 2008.

5) Outstanding Tourism Volunteer Award - recognizing that TIA Yukon, all of our designated organizations and all of our events in Yukon are driven by volunteers, this award is given to an individual who, as a volunteer, has demonstrated an outstanding effort in serving tourism locally, territorially or nationally. The recipient’s tireless dedication and commitment to the tourism industry in tandem with his or her vision and skill will serve as a legacy for many years to come.

6) Yukon Tourism Ambassador Award – Presented under exceptional circumstances only to recipients that have demonstrated excellence in product quality, standards, and development of the Yukon tourism industry. The recipient will demonstrate a first-class work ethic for other operators to aspire to. This individual or company will exhibit unparalleled dedication to positively shaping the future of the Yukon tourism industry.

Please note, this honourable title will not necessarily be awarded yearly. It will be awarded in exceptional circumstances, solely based on the decision of the awards judging committee in response to received nominations.

Quick Links
Download Nomination Form (84KB PDF)
Hall Of Fame - View past award winners