The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) has received three awards for its winning entries in the 54th annual Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Adrian Awards competition.

The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF) Joe McInerney Challenge for the 2009 Annual Giving Campaign won a Gold in public relations excellence; the launch of the AH&LA student chapters won a Silver in public relations excellence; and AH&LA’s centennial celebration won a bronze in public relations excellence.

The Gold Adrian Award submission for the Foundation’s 2009 Annual Campaign focused on AH&LA President/CEO Joe McInerney’s challenge to the industry that if AH&LEF met their fundraising goal, he would work at a hotel for a day in any capacity. The campaign not only met, but exceeded the goal in what was considered one of the worst economies the nation has seen.

The Silver Adrian Award recognized the success of AH&LA’s student chapters. Beginning with six pilot chapters in 2009, the program opened to all universities in early 2010. Within six months of opening, eight additional schools signed on, and student membership more than doubled.

The Bronze Adrian Award honored the association’s year-long centennial celebration, which included the development of a comprehensive microsite, 7-minute video, a 30-second in-room guest channel video, coffee table book, and more.

AH&LA will receive the awards during the annual HSMAI Adrian Awards Gala, a black-tie affair attended by more than 1,000 hospitality, travel, and tourism marketing executives, on January 31, 2011, at the New York Marriott Marquis.

Founded in 1927, HSMAI is an individual membership organization comprising more than 7,000 members worldwide, with 40 chapters in the Americas. The Adrian Awards honor excellence in travel marketing, advertising, and PR. This year’s contest attracted nearly 1,100 entries from around the world, with entries judged by top executives from all sectors of the industry.