Digital Innovation Asia announces winners for the 3rd DIA Awards

BANGKOK – In partnership with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Digi.travel World Events, Digital Innovation Asia (DIA) is delighted to announce the winners of the third Digital Innovation Asia Awards.
 

The Digital Innovation Asia Awards recognize the most forward thinking yet performance-oriented digital innovations in the Asia travel and tourism industry, as well as honoring the five top digital innovators. The DIA Awards were held following the “Digi.travel Thailand International Conference & Expo”, which was produced in cooperation with the PATA Thailand Chapter. Winners in the previous two years included the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Tourism Malaysia, e-Visa Cambodia, and Air New Zealand in 2013, and in 2014 Shangri-La Hotels, 12go.com, Tourism Authority of Thailand, and LocalAlike.com.
 

Recognizing the most effective digital initiatives in Asia with the E-Tourism Asia Award, as well as the most impactful digital innovation with the Digital Innovation Award, the awards also recognize citizen journalists for telling their travel stories online. Many travellers share their stories, photos, and even videos about their travel experiences on the internet. This information is widely used and trusted by consumers in their travel research. DIA Awards want to salute the most intriguing and captivating moments of travel stories in the Asia Pacific region by awarding the Blogger MatchUp Award.
 

By awarding the Digital Aid Award, the DIA Awards also recognize the most socially responsible digital initiative in an effort to drive sustainable tourism practices by leveraging digital, social, and mobile, and in order for the tourism industry to innovate and become more centric by leveraging new media and emerging technologies, not just for sales, distribution, and marketing efforts alone.
 

Due to the growing importance of the China Outbound Tourism Market, the DIA Awards recognize the most relevant digital initiative marketing to Chinese consumers, from website, to online campaign, social media initiative, and mobile app with the E-Tourism China Award.
 

“Partnering with Digital Innovation Asia, and combining the DIA Awards with the Digi.travel Thailand Conference makes sense as learning and recognizing best practices goes hand in hand” says Theodore Koumelis, Managing Director of Travel Media Applications, the organizer of Digi.travel World Events. “We are looking to further align the concepts of DIA and Digi.travel to help the industry adapt in the digital world.”
 

Digital innovations are driven by leaders that not only have vision, but also have the ability to execute. That’s the reason why this year, the DIA Awards recognize the Top 5 Digital Innovators in Asia. These individuals can be corporate leaders, exceptional entrepreneurs, or driven consultants, but they are all individuals that have set a new benchmark for the industry through their efforts.
 

And the winners are…
 

This award recognizes online travel ventures that have leveraged technology in innovative ways in order to develop tourism, enhance the travel experience, improve guest services, and drive consumer engagement.
 

WINNER & FINALISTS

Triip.me	Viet Nam	www.triip.me
Triphobo	India	www.triphobo.com
Wander	Singapore	www.heywander.com

This award recognizes the most viral campaign, most engaging website, most innovative mobile application, or most creative use of social media, promoting Asia Pacific as a tourism destination.
 

WINNER & FINALISTS

Thai Airways	Talk with Thai	https://social.thaiairways.com
TCEB	Spice up Business Events	Spice up Business Events
Harbour City Mall Hong Kong	Wally on Periscope	Wally on Periscope

 

This award recognizes the most relevant mandarin-language website, most creative use of Mainland China social media, or most impactful campaign, marketing to Chinese consumers.
 

WINNER & FINALISTS

Marriott International	Members Get More	Members Get More
Singapore Tourism Board	China, New Discoveries	China – New Discoveries
Los Angeles Tourism	HelloLA.cn	HelloLA.cn

 

This award recognizes the most impactful and creative campaign, venture, or initiative in promoting and stimulating responsible and sustainable tourism development in Asia Pacific, as well as social and community-based tourism practices, and engaging consumers in being more conscious travelers.
 

WINNER & FINALISTS

Coin Back	Thailand	Coin Back
Very Local Trip	Thailand	Very Local Trip
Book Greener	Indonesia	Book Greener

 

This award recognizes the most riveting digitally published storytelling piece, from blog post, video, photo, review, and audio, discovering new and exciting destinations in Asia Pacific.
 

WINNER & FINALISTS

Global Gaz	Ric Gazarian	Hit the Road India
Xpatt Matt	Matt Gibson	Life and Death at Angkor Wat
Where Sidewalks End	Ian Ord	Bamboo Tattoo in Thailand

 

The Top 5 Digital Innovator Award recognizes outstanding individuals that have showed innovation, creativity, leadership, and commercial impact, as well as achievements in challenging situations. The Top 5 Digital Innovators are our annual hot list of leaders that have truly raised the bar for the travel and tourism industry in Asia Pacific when it comes to digital innovation.

NAME	SECTOR	COMPANY
Sarita Chinaknond	Tourism	TCEB
Sameer Poonja	Aviation	Emirates Airlines
Marcos Cedana	Hotels	Minor Group
Karen Tam	Retail	Harbour City HK
Maunick Thacker	Casino	Marina Bay Sands

Digital Innovation Asia thanks its judges for their time and commitment in judging the finalists and winners.