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April 1-3, 2025
Hilton University of Houston
Houston, TX

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Excellence in Port Communications

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The Borders, Trade, and Immigration Institute, a Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence, led by the University of Houston, announces the creation of the annual Port of the Future Award for “Excellence in Port Communications and Community Relations.”

Each year, this award will be presented at the annual Port of the Future ConferenceTM, held the first week of April, in Houston, Texas. Finalists may be invited to participate on the Conference panel “Port Communications and Community Relations.” This year’s Port of the Future ConferenceTM will be held April 2-4, 2024, at the Hilton University Houston, Houston, Texas.

Competition for this award is open to ports worldwide. Awards will be presented in two categories: small ports (one hundred total employees or less), and large ports (more than one hundred employees). Interested ports should compile packets for review of their communications over the course of Calendar Year 2023.

Note: Ports who win the Excellence in Port Communications and Community Relations Award are ineligible to compete for the following five years.

Submissions will be reviewed in the following areas:

  • Port must identify the number of its employees (category of award)
  • Performance metrics and 2023 Calendar Year results
  • Use of multi-media channels to the port community (business partners, government and regional agencies, employees, business partners, carriers, surrounding communities, etc.)
    • Television
    • Radio
    • Print
    • Website
    • Social Media
    • Events (In-person communications)
    • Other
  • Coordination with media outlets
  • Advance notification and coverage of events
  • Emergency communications
  • Record of continuous communications outreach (over the 2023 calendar year)
  • Outreach to surrounding schools and communities
  • Innovation in communications

Submission packets must arrive at the University of Houston by Friday, March 1, 2024. Packets may provide samples of communications materials used by the submitting ports (communication plan, media releases, copies of social media postings, website, brochures, photos, video recordings, etc.).

All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of communications professionals. 2024 Awards will be announced March 15, 2024.

Submissions may be sent electronically to PortoftheFuture@uh.edu or mailed to:

University of Houston
Port of the Future Conference
ATTN: Excellence in Port Communication Award
5000 Gulf Freeway
Building 7, Suite 100
Houston, Texas 77204

Questions? Contact PortoftheFuture@uh.edu.