Data Hero Awards

Celebrating innovative, data-led initiatives making a positive impact on the world’s places.

Data Hero Awards Header (2)

Data Heroes make extraordinary contributions to their communities, putting data into action to move their destinations forward. Zartico’s Data Hero Awards recognize those teams and initiatives that use data to create an outsized impact on the visitors, residents, and future prosperity of a destination.

Stay tuned… Entries will open in early 2025. 

2024 Data Hero Award Winners

  • Campaign Planning, Putnam County Convention and Visitors Bureau
  • Community Partnership, Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism
  • Destination Management, meetNKY Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau
  • Meetings & Conventions, Visit Tampa Bay
  • Sports, Visit Myrtle Beach
  • Stewardship, Visit Lake Tahoe
  • Agency Unique Data Use, Idea Peddler
  • Chasing Innovation, Vic Isley, President & CEO of Explore Asheville

Award Categories

Campaign Planning 

Use of Zartico data to plan a paid marketing campaign.

  • Annual paid media planning
  • Targeting impact periods/seasonal campaigns
  • Geo-targeted campaigns
  • Interest-based campaigns

Sports 

Use of Zartico data to inform sports-related sales and marketing strategies.

  • Sports facility management
  • Sports marketing initiatives
  • Use of data for sales strategies

Meetings & Conventions 

Use of Zartico data to inform group, meeting, or convention sales and marketing strategies.

  • Convention Center or meeting facility impact analysis
  • Meeting and convention marketing initiatives
  • Use of data for sales strategies

Destination Management 

Use of Zartico data to influence product development or management

  • Securing funding for new product development
  • Long-term strategic planning, or identifying future needs
  • Bringing in or supporting a new event

Stewardship  

Use of Zartico data to identify or influence more sustainable visitation trends.

  • Influencing periods of compression, or addressing overtourism
  • Influencing visitor movement or dispersion
  • Influencing seasonality in visitation

Community Partnerships  

Use of Zartico data in partnership with community stakeholders

  • Local business or merchant groups
  • Arts or heritage organizations
  • Municipal or elected leaders

Agency Business Development 

Use of Zartico data by an agency to bring in or expand business.

  • New business pitch
  • Expanding scope or services for an existing destination client

Agency Unique Data Use  

Standout use of Zartico data by agency.

  • Going after new target markets
  • Implementing new marketing tactics with a destination client

Chasing Innovation Award

The Chasing Innovation Award is an honorary recognition bestowed by the employees of Zartico for "outstanding contributions to the innovation of insights for the betterment of the destination industry." 

The award is named in honor of the late Julie Chase who served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Visit Austin. She was a pioneer and early adopter of many innovative technologies, and the Chasing Innovation Award celebrates her ongoing quest to discover what’s new and next in the world of destination marketing.

FAQs

Can I submit more than one project?

Yes — destinations may submit more than one entry. Please only submit one entry per category.

Can advertising or media agencies submit on behalf of a destination client?

Yes — Zartico Certified Agency Clients may submit on behalf of destination clients. They may also submit their own entries in the two agency categories.

I want to submit an entry about an event within our destination. Which category should I choose?

Events related to sports or meetings/conventions should be submitted in those categories. If you have another type of event (a concert, festival, etc.), choose the category that fits best — consider Destination Management and Community Partnerships, though your event may also fit well elsewhere. And please note that the judging panel may choose to award winners in a different category than what they originally submitted.

How will entries be judged?

Entries will be judged by a panel made up of Zarticans and tourism industry professionals. Each entry will be scored on the innovative use of data in the development and success of the project.

Employee Testimonials

Maiya Allen

"Zartico has a great culture. We all come from different places but we created a safe place to coexist and achieve our goals and have each other’s back while doing so."

MEET THE TEAM
Maggie Bunting

"The supportive culture, opportunities for growth, and commitment to innovation make Zartico an exceptional place to build a career."

MEET THE TEAM
Cat Kessler

"Every day I feel energized by my coworkers — brilliant folks solving challenging problems, and supporting one another along the way."

MEET THE TEAM
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