2026 Award Winners
Southwest Virginia Tourism Awards Presented by Friends of Southwest Virginia
FRIENDS OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA ANNOUNCE WINNERS OF THE SWVA TOURISM AWARDS
Awards Luncheon Held During the Celebrate Tourism Summit in Wytheville
WYTHEVILLE, Va. (Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026) – Nearly 200 tourism professionals gathered on Tuesday at the seventh annual Celebrate Tourism Summit at the Wytheville Meeting Center, which was presented by Visit Wytheville, Virginia Tourism Corporation, and Friends of Southwest Virginia.
During the event, Friends of Southwest Virginia hosted the Southwest Virginia Tourism Awards Ceremony to honor the exceptional work within the region’s tourism industry.
Friends of Southwest Virginia proudly presented awards in various categories, recognizing the remarkable contributions to tourism marketing, visitor services, events, and leadership. These awards were open to tourism organizations, individuals in tourism and economic development, and tourism-related businesses within the 19 counties and four cities of the Southwest Virginia region.
“These awards recognize the people and organizations who help make Southwest Virginia a welcoming place to live and visit,” said Kim Davis, Executive Director of Friends of Southwest Virginia. “The partnerships across our region are what make this work possible, and we’re proud to celebrate the individuals and communities that continue to invest in tourism and work together to move Southwest Virginia forward.”
Southwest Virginia tourism professionals submitted over 70 nominations. Winners were selected by a panel of tourism industry professionals from across the Southeast United States, who carefully reviewed and judged each entry.
The 2026 Southwest Virginia Tourism Award winners were:
Excellence in Tourism Marketing Collateral
Best Tourism Business Related Website
The Crooked Road
Best Destination Marketing Organization Website
Tourism Marketing Budget of $50,000 or Less
Discover Rocky Mount Moonshine
Best Destination Marketing Organization Website
Tourism Marketing Budget of $50,000 or More
Visit Wytheville
Best Rack Card or Brochure
Marketing Budget $50,000 or less
Heart of Appalachia
Best Rack Card or Brochure
Marketing Budget $50,000 or More
Patrick County Tourism
Best Magazine
Marketing Budget $50,000 or less
Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce
Best Magazine
Marketing Budget $50,000 or more
Patrick County Tourism
Best Visitor Guide (Tie)
Marketing Budget $50,000 or less
Giles County Tourism
Grayson County Tourism
Best Visitor Guide
Marketing Budget of $50,000 or More
Pulaski County Tourism
Best Regional Visitor Guide
Heart of Appalachia
Best Print Ad
Marketing Budget $50,000 or less
Grayson County Tourism & Visit Galax
Best Print Ad
Marketing Budget $50,000 or More
Patrick County Tourism
Best Long Form Video (Tie)
Floyd Tourism
Town of Wytheville Department of Museums & PBS Appalachia
Best Short Form Video
Marketing Budget $50,000 or More
Explore Bristol
Best Destination Marketing Campaign
Marketing Budget $50,000 or Less
The Crooked Road
Best Destination Marketing Campaign
Marketing Budget $50,000 or More
Explore Bristol
Excellence In Tourism Partners
Outstanding Accommodations of the Year
Nicewonder Farm & Vineyards
Outstanding Attraction of the Year
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol
Nominated by Explore Bristol
Outstanding One-Day Event of the Year
Chasing The Squirrel: The Story of Wally Thrasher at NRV Airport
Nominated by Pulaski County Tourism
Outstanding Festival of the Year
Less than 10,000 Attendees
Ag & Art Adventure
Nominated by Grayson County Tourism
Outstanding Festival of the Year (2 or more days)
More than 10,000 Attendees
Galax Old Fiddler’s Convention
Nominated by The Crooked Road
Outstanding New Tourism Business of the Year – TIE
The Reed Creek Blueway
Nominated by Wythe County Tourism
Excellence In Tourism Leadership
Outstanding Tourism Partner of the Year
Dr. Amanda Brewer-Lord
Nominated by Visit Wytheville
Outstanding Volunteer
Jon Combs
Nominated by Believe in Bristol