Grand PRix awards of the Croatian Public Relations Association (HUOJ) are presented to the best communication projects, and this year the intense competition included whopping 61 projects. The largest number of projects was registered in the competition of the public sector and large companies. Professional jury consisting of eleven communications experts, led by President Boška Trbojević, rated the projects in nine categories. Special awards were also presented to individuals for excellence in professional accomplishments.
Grand Prix for public relations in the public sector went to the project “Cultural incidents” of the agency Vajt Ltd. and HNK Split. In this category, among the finalists were also projects “RESTART” of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics and “Rendez-vous, the French festival in Croatia”, of the French Embassy in the Republic of Croatia, the French Institute in Croatia, Croatian Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia, Communications office Colić, Laco and Partners.
Best project in the category of corporate social responsibility was the project “How space for your ideas become a spajaLICA” of the INA – Oil industry, and the competition also included Pragma Communications with the project “Campaign to prevent underage drinking – Turn on the conscience: sometimes children need to be said no” and LIDL Croatia with the project “Large Cinema for Mali Lošinj” – restoration and opening of a cinema in Mali Lošinj.
In the business sector for small and medium businesses, Grand Prix took the Media Val and the “Communication Support to Project Tour of Croatia”. Other finalists in this category were Inkasator with the project “Save energy, renew with energy and live better”, and Komunikacijski Laboratorij with the project “Breakfast in McDonad’s”.
In the category of big business, four equally valuable projects squeezed into the finals. The award went to the project “Building a reputation and positioning of D-Resort Šibenik” by Hauska&Partner for Dogus Group Croatia. The nominees in this category were Ilirija: “Biograd Boat Show ver.17.0”, Croatian Telecom and Agency 404: “4G Drone Day – the first drone event in Croatia” and Franck, Pepermint Agency and Agency 404, “Revitalization of the City Café under the new brand Johann Franck”.
“Wake up to (Branimir) Budetic” of Allianz Zagreb was the best in the category of internal communications. The finalists in this category were also the “Encouraging an active lifestyle among employees of Coca-Cola HBC Croatia” Coca-Cola HBC Croatia, and “Through proper motion to health – a unique initiative to educate employees about the proper execution of movements in the workplace and everyday life” of LIDL Croatia.
Grand Prix for digital communication went to the project of Nova TV, “#FelfieHR”. The other finalists were “#RoditeljiBiraju” of dm-drogerie markt and “The Voice – Croatia’s best voice” of the Agency 404.
The best adaptation of a global campaign was “The Best Job (Grasswatcher)” of the agency Komunikacijski Laboratorij, and other finalists were projects “Nestle Initiative for Youth Employment” of Nestle Adriatic and Media Vala, and “Chew for change” by Dialog Komunikacije for Wrigley Croatia.
Unlike previous years, this year awards were presented in the categories of non-governmental sector and political communication.
In the category of non-governmental sector, the award went to the “UNICEF Museum of Reality” of Helvetica Communications (Swiss creative solutions). Other finalists were: Association of Parents Step by Step and Media Val with “Organizations that care” and Association of taxpayers LIPA with “Public Debt Counter”.
Vajt Ltd. and their project “Srdjan Gjurković – easily available” took the award in the category of political communication. Others in the running were Maksima Komunikacije with “We know how – the political campaign of the party Smart for parliamentary elections” and Nova TV with “Where I am 2015”.
The jury also awarded a special award to the agency with the highest number of points earned for all projects in the final selection of the 9th Grand Prix. This recognition was given to the Agency 404.
At the end, HUOJ’s President Aleksandra Kolarić presented the award for development of profession to Žljko Jelić.
