Weidinger PR wins three Silver Spike awards

Lake Tahoe-based Weidinger Public Relations was recognized with three awards for various campaigns at the Public Relations Society of America, Sierra Nevada Chapter Silver Spikes Awards, Nov. 17 at the Whitney Peak Hotel in Reno.

Weidinger PR received awards for each of its three entries: one Silver Spike and two Awards of Excellence.

The firm won the Silver Spike award in the category, Special Events and Observances, 1 or 2 Days, for their planning of the Edgewood Tahoe Lodge groundbreaking.

They also won two Awards of Excellence for the Operation Sierra Storm, Tahoe meteorological conference in the category, Special Events and Observances, 3 or More Days, and the other for “Overall Program” for their Diamond Resort Invitational celebrity golf tournament.

The designations celebrate northern Nevada’s best communications practices and professionals of 2016. The Silver Spike is the highest honor from the Chapter and identifies outstanding achievement, far-reaching client results, and high standards for quality of work and ethics.

Efforts on behalf of the Edgewood Tahoe Lodge for its monumental groundbreaking earned top honors in its category with media reaching an audience of more than 86 million and generating more than $790,000 in earned media value for Edgewood Companies. While the client had expected local and regional coverage they were overwhelmed by the event’s reach with a national AP story.

An Award of Excellence was received for the 2016 Operation Sierra Storm that generated national media attention for Tahoe South as a leading winter destination with major coverage on two national programs: Fox & Friends, and The Weather Channel totaling 7 hours. Meteorologists from markets throughout the U.S. conducted 70 live and taped broadcasts from Heavenly Mountain Resort. The conference established records for audience reach at more than 100 million viewers and earned media value for television, online and print exposure totaling $5.2 million ($3.7 for broadcast, $1.5 for online/print) – or ROI of 56 times the investment.

The final Award of Excellence was presented for Weidinger PR’s collaboration of Vizion PR, Philadelphia, Penn., for the inaugural Diamond Resorts Invitational celebrity golf tournament benefiting Florida Hospital for Children in Orlando, Fla. It proved to be a major success with its strong celebrity field, attractive venue and quality organization – the tournament raised $503,000 for Florida Hospital for Children. Media results reflected by coverage throughout Central Florida, nationally and in major cities around the country greatly exceeded the sponsor’s original and rigorous media objectives.

“The measurable results we achieved on behalf of our clients was gratifying,” said Phil Weidinger, principal. “I’m proud of the great team here, especially the consistent level of quality work.”

Weidinger Public Relations is a five-person firm in Stateline, Nev. that has specialized in travel, tourism, recreation, real estate, special and sporting events since 1985.

PRSA is the world’s largest organization for public relations professionals with nearly 21,000 members in more than 100 chapters representing business and industry, technology, consulting firms, governments, organizations, professional firms and non-profit organizations.