For Immediate Release:
Ventura, Calif. (March 4, 2026) – Visit Ventura is thrilled to announce it has been recognized for marketing excellence by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) and received a Silver Adrian Award for an outstanding entry in the Print Collateral/Owned Media category for its 2025 Visitor Inspiration Guide, published in partnership with Wanderlust Content Studio.
“Our Ventura Inspiration Guide is truly a love letter to our community,” said Marlyss Auster, President & CEO of Visit Ventura. “This recognition is a win for Ventura as a whole. From our incredible partners and business owners to the neighbors featured in its pages, this was a collective effort. We are proud to tell Ventura’s story together. This guide is more than inspiration. It is our blueprint for how Ventura shows up next.”
This year, locals really shone bright in the organization’s Visitor Guide. From a story on Ventura’s Native American heritage to a guide on our beach town’s eclectic neighborhoods, each and every image and article in the guide celebrates the local community.
Photos throughout the magazine either feature local models or were taken by a local photographer, and the Guide’s front cover was hand-designed and drawn by an artist who grew up in the region. Advertising in the Guide reads like a story, because, after all, Visit Ventura wouldn’t be able to tell Ventura’s story without the unwavering support and creativity of local businesses and partners.
“Research confirms what we’re seeing firsthand — people are craving authenticity and tactile experiences as an escape from digital fatigue. From Gen Z leading the analogue revival to the mainstreaming of digital detox, print isn’t just surviving; it’s thriving,” said Nicole Bordges, Co-Founder of Wanderlust Content Studio. “The Ventura Inspiration Guide embodies exactly this: local voices lend trusted, authentic perspective; a custom-illustrated cover by a local artist adds visual distinction and elevated aesthetics; and the soft-touch finish delivers the tactile and grounding quality that today’s readers are drawn to.”
So important was the local community, Visit Ventura decided to run a campaign inspired by the Guide’s cover. The Ventura Vans Giveaway was targeted specifically for Venturans who love their hometown, and they had a chance to enter to win their own pair of custom Ventura Inspiration Guide cover Vans. With over 206,500 impressions and 3,200 giveaway entries, the Inspiration Guide’s reach and impact were felt beyond the pages.
This past year, over 65,000 copies of the guide were printed and distributed nationwide. From Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, and even Florida, travelers actively requested a guide to be mailed to their homes. Combined with paid distribution at key locations and markets like Las Vegas and San Diego, Visit Ventura shared the Ventura story far beyond the city’s coastline.
Now in its 69th year, the Adrian Awards is the largest and most prestigious competition dedicated to travel marketing. The 2025 awards recognize exceptional achievements across advertising, digital marketing, public relations/communications, and integrated campaigns — with expanded recognition in areas such as influencer marketing, reputation management, affiliate strategies, and broadcast integration.
The 2025 theme, Exceptional Experience, celebrates the creativity and impact of campaigns that go beyond the destination – highlighting the power of storytelling, emotion, and experience in inspiring travel decisions and shaping unforgettable journeys.
“The Adrian Awards showcase the work that sets new standards in travel marketing,” said Brian Hicks, president and CEO of HSMAI. “This year’s winners represent the ingenuity and passion that continue to elevate the global travel experience.”
The Adrian Awards Celebration brings together top hospitality and travel marketing leaders and their creative partners for an evening of inspiration and recognition. Winning entries will be featured in the official Adrian Awards Winners Gallery following the event. Visit adrianawards.hsmai.org for more information.
Read the Visit Ventura 2025 Inspiration Guide here.
