MTA Member of the Year
This is presented to an outstanding MTA member that goes above and beyond for the organization.
DMO of the Year – $1,000,000 and Over
CVB with a budget of $1,000,000 and over recognized for outstanding efforts in promoting tourism in their area through events and activities that generate visitors. They must show they are willing to work with surrounding tourism endeavors that not only promote their own area but also other partners.
DMO of the Year – $500,000 to $999,000
CVB with a budget of $500,000 to $999,000 recognized for outstanding efforts in promoting tourism in their area through events and activities that generate visitors. They must show they are willing to work with surrounding tourism endeavors that not only promote their own area but also other partners.
DMO of the Year – $0 to $499,000
CVB with a budget of $0 to $499,000 and over recognized for outstanding efforts in promoting tourism in their area through events and activities that generate visitors. They must show they are willing to work with surrounding tourism endeavors that not only promote their own area but also other partners.
Tourism Promotion of the Year
This is awarded to the promotional campaign that is innovative in attracting visitors to an area or event.
Tourism Investment Award
This award will honor an entity or person who has made an enduring contribution to the economy. This award is eligible for those who have built or invested their time, talents and money into a hotel, restaurant, attraction or other tourism related project.
Tourism Achievement Award
This is awarded to a tourism entity that has successfully increased visitation to their community. Through advertising, promotion and campaigns, this entity enhances the travel and tourism experience through their vision and commitment to tourism in their community.
Tourism Resiliency Award (New)
This is awarded to an organization that went above and beyond during the pandemic, overcoming adversity and exhibiting outstanding leadership for the industry.
Governmental Tourism Leadership Award
This is awarded to a government entity that supports tourism and helps attract visitors while working with their tourism partners. Examples of government entities include but are not limited to: state legislators, local government officials such as mayors, alderman/supervisors, city and county clerks, etc.)
Community Volunteer of the Year
This is awarded to a person that gives freely of their personal time to help attract visitors to their city. They are willing to work on either an individual project or multiple projects tirelessly with the desire of making their city grow through tourism.
Travel Attraction of the Year
This is presented to an attraction that is new or unique in attracting visitors to its city. It shows results in bringing in tourists and visitors.
Large Festival/Event of the Year (Attendance of over 5,000)
This is awarded to a unique festival or event that is well attended, attracts a large variety of visitors and is well publicized. This category is for events with over 5,000 in attendance
Small Festival/Event of the Year (Attendance of 5,000 and below)
This is awarded to a unique festival or event that is well attended, attracts a large variety of visitors and is well publicized. This category is for events with 5,000 and fewer in attendance.
Travel Media Award
This is awarded to a publication, travel writer, or media entity that goes the extra mile to help give editorial or coverage to a tourism entity beyond the purchased advertising. They diligently work to help promote tourism to a specific area through their coverage.
Travel Media Award – Travel Trade Publication
This is awarded to a publication specific to the travel trade industry that goes the extra mile by giving editorial coverage to a tourism entity beyond the purchased advertising. They are helpful with their coverage to promote tourism or conventions to a specific area.
Travel Media Award – Travel Writer
This is awarded to a specific travel writer that has given great coverage in their journalism of a specific area, event, or activity.
Travel Media Award – Newspaper
This is awarded to a newspaper that has gone above and beyond the purchased publicity to help promote tourism.
Travel Media Award – Broadcast
This is awarded to a broadcast media source that, through its broadcast, promos, and coverage help attract tourist to a specific area or attraction.
Social Media Campaign of the Year
This is awarded to a tourism entity that has effectively created a social media campaign to promote a specific event, area, attraction, branding, etc. This entity also proved the campaigns success through interaction with fans, increase in likes and website traffic.
Social Media Overall Strategy
This is awarded to a tourism entity that has effectively integrated social media into their marketing and communications plan by developing relationships and building users that are valuable. In addition, this entity has also analyzed, adapted and improved their strategy to perfect their social media efforts.
Best Social Media Presence
This is awarded to a tourism entity that has effectively created a social media presence beyond Facebook. This entity must have at least 2 of the following platforms (LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube) in addition to Facebook.
The tourism entity must provide examples of design, style, content and usability along with statistics showing their success in promoting their area.
The entity must also prove success through interaction with fans, increase in likes and website traffic. Below are the following criteria required for each platform:
For Facebook Page Insights –
- a) Increased count in likes for the given time period
- b) Reach per person (Increase in page Reach/Total likes)
For Other Forums( twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest ,LinkedIn) –
- a) Number of Followers
- b) Frequency of posts (posts/month)
