NEWS FROM THE SHOP AMERICA ALLIANCE
Released: 02/15/05
SASI AWARD WINNERS and SHOPPING/TOURISM PERSON OF THE YEAR HONORED at the 8TH ANNUAL SHOP AMERICA TOURISM CONFERENCE
SASI= Shop America Salutes Innovation. A total of 18 SASI Awards for shopping tourism marketing excellence-- 9 Winners, 8 Finalists and one special "Chairperson's Choice" award for overall marketing excellence to Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority-- were presented at the SASI Awards Luncheon during the Shop America Tourism Conference at the Sheraton Moana Surfrider Hotel in Honolulu on January 13.
Shop America also honored Kate Cavaliere, Tourism Manager, The Macerich Company, as the Shopping Tourism Person of the Year. Commenting on Cavaliere's career achievements, the Shop America Advisory Board lauded her innovation and dedication in spearheading the Shop America Scholarship program and chairing the annual Shop America Silent Auction to benefit the Scholarship fund. She manages tourism marketing for eighteen Macerich shopping centers and is the author of the Macerich Shopping Tourism manual.
Each year, Shop America Summit honors one prominent leader in the shopping or tourism industry for his or her vision and commitment to developing Shopping and Tourism. Developers, tourism industry execs, marketing execs, CVB and state tourism officials are all eligible. 2004 Shopping Tourism Person of the Year nominees included Karen Mac Donald, Communications Director, Taubman Centers and Christine Szalay, Marketing and Tourism Director, NorthPark Center. Prior Shopping Tourism Person of the Year honorees includes Werner Escher, South Coast Plaza, Art Jimenez, Las Vegas CVA and Carolyn Feimster, CJF Marketing International.
SASI Awards National Chairperson, Brandace Berger Bruning, Vice President, Center Oak Properties, remarked: "We congratulate all involved for their exceptional creativity and innovation! We are especially proud that all SASI Awards entry fees and proceeds from the Shop America silent auction are donated to Shop America Scholarship Foundation, presented in partnership with the Travel Industry Association, to a deserving undergraduate student."
Winners of the 2004 SASI Awards
Costa Mesa CA Conference & Visitors Bureau, Dan Pittman
Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority, Priscilla Kalugdan
DFS Hawaii, Wenli Lin
California Travel & Tourism, Susan Wilcox
Bloomington MN CVB, Dan O'Neil and Jan Kroells
General Growth Properties, Kathy Anderson
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Staci Alfermann
Westcor - a subsidiary of The Macerich Company, Kate Cavaliere
International Plaza & Bay Street, Danah Williams Heye
Finalists for the 2004 SASI Awards
Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, Art Jimenez (4 awards)
Maui Divers Jewelry, Bob Taylor
Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, Carri Tovsky
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Staci Alfermann
California Travel & Tourism Commission/Shop California, Susan Wilcox
The 2004 SASI Awards judges were Alyssa Pankratz, Account Leader, R&R Partners, Lisa Jacob, PR Specialist, R&R Partners and Paul McGuire, Corporate Media Director, R&R Partners.
Shop America Alliance LLC (SAA) represents 200 of the premier shopping tourism destinations in North America. The organization serves as the travel and tourism industry's exclusive resource for Shopping Tourism information and partnership opportunities. SAA produces the annual Conference, publishes Shop America Magazine and markets Shop America Tours at www.shopamericatours.com.
For more information on the Shop America Alliance, the Shop America Tourism Conference and the SASI Awards, visit www.shopamericavip.com or call 401-398-1045.