News Release
Indiana’s annual tourism conference was held March 16-18 in Indianapolis. The Indiana Tourism Awards were presented on Tuesday, March 17. The awards honor tourism businesses who are creative, innovative and maximize the dollars invested. The winners were:
- Best Culinary Focused Campaign – Hamilton County Tourism, Inc.
- Best Advocacy Initiative (Marketing Budgets under $500,000) – Indiana Dunes Tourism
- Best Advocacy Initiative (Marketing Budgets over $500,000) – Terre Haute Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Best Cooperative Partnership (Marketing Budgets under $500,000) – Visit Madison, Inc.
- Best Cooperative Partnership (Marketing Budgets over $500,000) – South Shore Convention & Visitors Authority
- Best Digital Marketing Campaign (Marketing Budgets under $500,000) – Harrison County CVB
- Best Digital Marketing Campaign (Marketing Budgets over $500,000) – Hamilton County Tourism, Inc.
- Best Meeting/Group Partnership– Visit Fort Wayne: Int’l Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies – 2025 Annual Conference
- Best New Experience (Marketing Budgets under $500,000) – Conner Prairie
- Best New Experience (Marketing Budgets over $500,000) – Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari
- Best Specialty Item (Marketing Budgets under $500,000) – Huber’s Orchard & Winery – Starlight Distillery
- Best Specialty Item (Marketing Budgets over $500,000) – Visit South Bend Mishawaka
- Best Event/Festival (Marketing Budgets under $500,000) – Visit Madison, Inc.: Unbroken Circle Music Festival
- Best Event/Festival– Hamilton County Sports Authority: LIV Golf Indianapolis
- Best Overall Marketing Campaign (Marketing Budgets under $500,000) – Carmel Christkindlmarkt
- Best Overall Marketing Campaign (Marketing Budgets over $500,000) – Indianapolis Zoo: Amazing All Around
- Best Sports Partnership – Visit Fort Wayne: 2025 Sitting ParaVolley World Cup
- Best IN Indiana Activation – Visit Madison, Inc.: Madison Mobile
- Best New Merchandise (Marketing Budgets under $500,000) – Huber’s Orchard & Winery – Starlight Distillery
- Best New Merchandise (Marketing Budgets over $500,000) – Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari
- Best Website (Attraction) – Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites
- Best Website (Marketing Budgets under $500,000) – Brown County CVB
- Best Website (Marketing Budgets over $500,000) – Hamilton County Tourism, Inc.
- Best Brochure (Marketing Budgets under $500,000) – Indiana Foodways Alliance
- Best Brochure (Marketing Budgets over $500,000) – Visit Bloomington
- Best Visitors Guide (Marketing Budgets under $500,000) – Visit Posey County
- Best Visitors Guide (Marketing Budgets over $500,000) – Elkhart County, IN CVB
In addition to the above awards, the Indiana Tourism Association gave out three individual awards based on merit:
Indiana Tourism Academy Spark Award – The Spark Award is for Indiana Tourism Academy Graduates whose passion and innovation spark growth across Indiana’s destinations. This year’s award went to Grace Caswell, Visit Noble County.
Indiana Tourism Association Distinguished Service Award – The Distinguished Service Award is for individuals who have seen the importance of developing, promoting and protecting Indiana’s tourism industry. They have used their position and influence to ensure the success of Indiana tourism assets. This year’s award went to Jo Wade, Visit Lafayette West Lafayette.
Indiana Tourism Association Member of the Year – The Member of the Year award is designed for members of the association who stepped forward and provided exemplary service and leadership to the industry and the association. This year’s award went to Melissa Arnold, Spencer County Visitors Bureau.
Over 370 tourism leaders from around the state came to the Indiana Tourism Conference for networking and educational sessions over three-days.
