AdWheel Awards

​The AdWheel Awards recognize the marketing and communications efforts of APTA’s members. Additionally, the annual awards competition creates a structure to share best practices and to raise the awareness of the value of public transportation marketing professionals within the industry. The 2023 Cycle opened November 17, 2022 and closed Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 11:59 pm PT.

First Place winners were honored at the 2023 Marketing & Communications Workshop, February 26-March 1, 2023 in Las Vegas. Grand Award winners will be honored October 8-11, 2023 at APTA’s TRANSform Conference & EXPO in Orlando.

What are the categories and subcategories?

In an effort to align the AdWheel Awards with organizational and industry strategic goals, awards will be presented in the following four (4) categories. Each category has seven (7) subcategories for entries to be submitted under.

For the 2023 cycle, we introduce a special Workforce Development category to recognize such things as efforts to hire and retain bus/rail operators and all other public transportation industry staff.

1. Best Marketing and Communications on Workforce Development (e.g. staff recruitment or retention)
   • ​Print Media (e.g. brochure, newspaper ad, billboard)
   • Electronic Media (e.g. online video, radio ad, web content)
   • Special Event (e.g. press conference)
   • Social Media (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram efforts)
   • Partnership (e.g. involving another organization in your effort)
   • Shoestring Tactic (e.g. any subcategory done on a very limited budget. Include the budget number in your effectiveness statement)
   • Comprehensive Campaign (A campaign is an effort with multiple components that are used together to achieve your goal​)
2. Best Marketing and Communications to Support Ridership or Sales
   • ​Print Media (e.g. brochure, newspaper ad, billboard)
   • Electronic Media (e.g. online video, radio ad, web content)
   • Special Event (e.g. community event, press conference)
   • Social Media (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat efforts)
   • Partnership (e.g. involving another organization in your effort)
   • Shoestring Tactic (e.g. any subcategory done on a very limited budget. Include the budget number in your effectiveness statement)
   • Comprehensive Campaign (A campaign is an effort with multiple components that are used together to achieve your goal​)
3. Best Marketing and Communications Educational Initiative (Non-Workforce Development [e.g. Covid-19 response, general public information,​ improve safety or security, courtesy, or other transit objective])
   • ​Print Media (e.g. brochure, newspaper ad, billboard)
   • Electronic Media (e.g. online video, radio ad, web content)
   • Special Event (e.g. community event, press conference)
   • Social Media (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram efforts)
   • Partnership (e.g. involving another organization in your effort)
   • Shoestring Tactic (e.g. any subcategory done on a very limited budget. Include the budget number in your effectiveness statement)
   • Comprehensive Campaign (A campaign is an effort with multiple components that are used together to achieve your goal​
4. ​​​Best Marketing and Communications to Highlight Transit Needs/Funding (e.g. ballot measure campaign, legislative efforts)​
   • ​Print Media (e.g. brochure, newspaper ad, billboard)
   • Electronic Media (e.g. online video, radio ad, web content)
   • Special Event (e.g. community event, press conference)
   • Social Media (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram efforts)
   • Partnership (e.g. involving another organization in your effort)
   • Shoestring Tactic (e.g. any subcategory done on a very limited budget. Include the budget number in your effectiveness statement)
   • Comprehensive Campaign (A campaign is an effort with multiple components that are used together to achieve your goal​)​

How and when are winners honored?

First Place winners and non-winners were notified on January 31, 2023 and honored in-person at the 2023 Marketing & Communications Workshop, February 26 – March 1, 2023, in Las Vegas, NV.

Grand Award winners were selected from the First Place winners and will be honored at the 2023 TRANSform Conference & APTA EXPO in Orlando, FL, October 8-11, 2023. Grand Award status notifications were sent August 9, 2023, to all First Place winning entrants.

Eligibility:

All APTA members in good standing may submit entries. Entries may be submitted by individual members, or two or more members working on the same project. For answers to membership questions, call APTA’s Membership Department at 202-496-4800.

Eligible Entries: Elements or campaigns must have been used in whole or in part between December 15, 2021 and December 15, 2022, and that particular entry element/campaign may not have previously won an AdWheel Award.​

NOTE: All materials entered become property of APTA and may be used in promotion of both APTA and the AdWheel Awards.

All entries must have been submitted via the online entry portal by 11:59 pm (PT) on Wednesday, December 21, 2022.

Fees:

The AdWheel Awards Program is a self-sustaining program. Entry fees are used to cover the costs of running the program. You are allowed to enter in as many subcategories and categories as you like. The 2023 entry fee is $125 per entry.

• ​You may pay by credit card after you complete your entry.
• You can also pay by check. Please remember to send a copy of your invoice with your payment. Many checks are sent to APTA and we need to know where the funds should be allocated.
• Payment is due by January 16, 2023.
• Purchase Orders are not allowed as a form of payment for this awards program.