Ford International Airport Sweeps West Michigan Advertising Awards, Winning Judge’s Choice and Best in Show

The Gerald R. Ford International Airport swept the recent 2022 American Advertising Federation West Michigan Advertising Awards, winning nine individual honors as well as being recognized with judge’s choice and best-in-show awards.

Ford International Airport and its marketing and advertising partner, Extra Credit Projects, received awards for print, video, outdoor, social and integrated campaigns, among others. In addition to the judge’s choice and best-in-show awards, the duo received multiple awards for the Fly Safe. Fly Ford. campaign, including:

• Gold for an outdoor campaign that featured a “Safe Travels” snowboarder and “A Clean Getaway” hammock that was a face mask.

• Gold for a 15-second video highlighting direct destinations and sanitation standards.

• Gold for an integrated campaign featuring print, on-premise, outdoor, video, radio and other pieces.

• Silver for a print ad spotlighting direct destinations.

• Silver for copywriting in print, outdoor and social executions.

Additional awards included:

• Silver for single outdoor featuring a “Touchdown” billboard.

• Silver for a contextual outdoor campaign, including two designs for “Current Traffic Report” and “Current Weather Report.”

• Bronze for the 2020 annual report.

“We are incredibly honored to have been recognized by West Michigan’s advertising community for the creative and compelling ways we are getting our message out,” said Tory Richardson, president and CEO of Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority. “Rob Jackson and the talented team at Extra Credit Projects have been a tremendous partner in this process.

“As air travel progresses towards pre-pandemic levels, we will continue to highlight all the reasons Ford International Airport is West Michigan’s best travel choice.”

The American Advertising Awards is one of the industry’s largest creative competitions. Regional creative agencies submitted ads for review by an out-of-market committee of their advertising peers. The Fly Safe. Fly Ford campaigns now go on to compete regionally.

"It seems fitting that the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, one of the biggest economic drivers in the region, won judge’s choice and best-in-show awards,” said Rob Jackson, principal at ECP. “As this work now goes on to compete regionally and then nationally, we believe it represents West Michigan well."