PRESS RELEASE: FRIENDS OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA ANNOUNCE WINNERS OF THE SWVA TOURISM AWARDS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

CONTACT:

Kim Davis

Friends of Southwest Virginia

marketing@myswva.org

 

FRIENDS OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA ANNOUNCE

WINNERS OF THE SWVA TOURISM AWARDS

Awards Luncheon Held During Reignite Tourism Summit in Wytheville

 

WYTHEVILLE, Va. (Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022) – Nearly 200 tourism professionals gathered on Monday at the third annual Reignite Tourism Summit held at the Wytheville Meeting Center. During the event, Friends of Southwest Virginia held the inaugural Southwest Virginia Tourism Awards Ceremony to celebrate the outstanding work within the tourism industry in Southwest Virginia.

 

In recognition of the incredible work and contributions in advancing the Southwest Virginia Tourism Industry, Friends of Southwest Virginia was honored to present awards in a number of categories that reflected tourism marketing, visitor services, events, and leadership. The Tourism Awards were open to tourism organizations, tourism and economic development individuals, and tourism-related businesses located within the 19 counties of the Southwest Virginia region.

 

“Taking time to celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of our tourism partners is important,” said Kim Davis, executive director of Friends of Southwest Virginia. “Tourism is one of the key economic drivers in Southwest Virginia, and we are pleased to recognize these incredible leaders who work hard every day to showcase and market our region to travelers.”

 

Southwest Virginia tourism professionals submitted nearly 60 nominations. Winners were chosen after a panel of tourism industry professionals from across the Southeastern United States, and one judge from England reviewed and judged each entry.

 

The 2022 Southwest Virginia Tourism Award winners were:

 

Excellence in Tourism Marketing Awards

Best Print Ad

Patrick County Tourism

Our State Magazine Ad

 

Best Visitor Guide

Grayson County Visitor Guide

Elevated by Nature

 

Best New Website

Marketing Budget $50,000 or Less

Smyth County Tourism Association

 

Best New Website

Marketing Budget $50,000 or More

Pulaski County Tourism

 

Best Rack Card or Brochure

Marketing Budget $50,000 or Less

Big Stone Gap

 

Best Rack Card or Brochure

Marketing Budget $50,000 or More

Discover Bristol

Gone Livin’ Brochure

 

Best Short Video – Less than 60 Seconds

Visit Wytheville

Find Your Adventure in Wytheville

 

Best Long Video – More than 60 seconds

Marketing Budget $50,000 or Less

Patrick County Chamber of Commerce

Our Trails lead to Adventure~ Patrick County VA

 

Best Long Video – More than 60 seconds

Marketing Budget $50,000 or More

Discover Bristol

Gone Livin’

 

Best Video Series for a Destination

Marketing Budget $50,000 or Less

City of Norton

Get Outside in Norton Video Series

 

Best Video Series for a Destination

Marketing Budget $50,000 or More

Visit Tazewell County

There’s No Better Place To Stay

 

Best Video Series for an Event

Birthplace of Country Music

Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion – Celebrating 20 years in 2021

 

Best Overall Destination Marketing Campaign

2 Campaigns Honored

 

Visit Wytheville

Stop and Smell the Lavender

 

Discover Bristol

Gone Livin’

 

Best PR Campaign

Birthplace of Country Music

20th Anniversary of Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion

 

Best Social Media Campaign

Pulaski County Tourism Social Media Rebranding

 

Best Recovery Campaign

Marketing Budget $50,000 or Less

Wise County Marketing & Community Development

Stay for a Weekend. Stay for a Lifetime

 

Best Recovery Campaign

Marketing Budget $50,000 or More

Discover Bristol

Gone Livin’ Campaign

 

Excellence in Tourism Partners Awards

Outstanding Visitor Center of the Year

The Big Stone Gap Visitor Center

 

Outstanding One Day Event of the Year

Pulaski County Winterfest

 

Outstanding Festival of the Year with 2 or More Days and with Less than 10,000 Attendees each year.

Front Porch Fest

 

Outstanding Festival of the Year with 2 or More Days and with More than 10,000 Attendees each year.

Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion

 

Outstanding New Tourism Business of the Year

2 Businesses Honored

 

Pickle & Ash

Nominated by Patrick County Tourism

 

Cameo Theatre

Nominated by Discover Bristol

 

Outstanding Attraction of the Year

Bristol Motor Speedway

Nominated by Discover Bristol

 

Excellence in Tourism Leadership

Outstanding Tourism Partner of the Year

2 Partners Honored

 

Patrick County Chamber of Commerce

 

The Draper Village

 

Outstanding Volunteer of the Year

Sally Bolling

Birthplace of Country Music / Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion

 

Outstanding Visitor Center Employee of the Year

Joey O’Quinn

Town of Big Stone Gap

 

The Crooked Road Award

Outstanding Tourism Partner

David Rotenizer

 

Shining Star – Outstanding Tourism Leader of the Year

Jonathan Sweet

Pulaski County

 

Outstanding Leader of Year

Rita Surratt

Dickenson County