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Top tourism marketing agency, Sydney-based DC & Associates Worldwide, won two competitive categories in the 2018 Awards for Excellence, presented at the annual Australian Society of Travel Writers (ASTW) gala held in Bangkok, Thailand, on 19 August 2018.

Managing Director, Donna Campbell, and Media Director, Pip Macken, were awarded PR Campaign of the Year, while Pip Macken took home the gong for 2018 Communicator of the Year.

DC & A Worldwide was victorious ahead of finalists Klick Communications, TFE Hotels & Frank PR, and Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia. This is the second year in a row DC & A Worldwide has taken out the top communications award, after being presented with 2017 Communications Team of the Year at last year’s ASTW gala.

The PR Campaign of the Year award recognises DC & A Worldwide for their Visiting Journalists Program that successfully raised the profile of Destination Canada and built awareness of its unique product offerings through engaging media coverage across all platforms: television, print, online, radio and social media during 2017.

“We are incredibly honoured to be recognised by the ASTW in this category and would like to offer our heart-felt gratitude for the wonderful on-going association we share with its members,” said Ms Campbell. “Through our Visiting Journalists Program we have forged strong relationships with talented Australian writers, photographers, producers and publishers.

“This loyal ‘squad’ of Canada advocates return to Canada time after time, sharing their emotive first-hand experiences with Australian consumers, telling stories of Canada’s warm hospitality, unique wildlife, far-flung locations, cultural diversity, urban adventures, and bucket-list journeys by rail and road.”

The top PR accolade, Communicator of the Year, won by Pip Macken, was a competitive category, with finalists including Peter Hook (Hook Communications), Donna Parkin (Parkin PR) and Shelley Winkel (Tourism Queensland). The winner was voted on by ASTW members.

Ms Macken said she was thrilled to be recognised among such amazing talent and thanked TravMedia and the ASTW for their loyal support and encouragement.

“Working for Destination Canada is truly the dream job and I’m so grateful to have the chance to work alongside Aussie writers and photographers who are such fantastic Canada advocates,” said Ms Macken.

“Through consistent, powerful story-telling through words, video and imagery, we are effectively inspiring Australians to explore this incredible country for themselves.”