The Patrick County Tourism Department won two awards – Excellence in Tourism Marketing Collateral awards for the Best New Website (Tourism Marketing Budget—$50,000 or more) and Best Magazine Guide for the 2023 Fall Magazine – on Aug. 6, during the 5th annual Celebrate Tourism Summit.
“I am excited about the awards. They show the team’s hard work and dedication to showcasing our amazing stories, people, and an outstanding community,” said James Houchins, director of Economic Development and Tourism.
He was among the more than 200 tourism professionals gathered for the summit, which was held at the Wytheville Meeting Center, 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 in the region’s tourism industry. Awards were presented 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 of the Southwest Virginia region.
Many projects, like the county’s magazine “are produced in partnership with the Patrick County Chamber of Commerce,” Houchins said, adding that Rebecca Adcock, the chamber’s executive director, “is one of the driving forces behind the magazine. She coordinates the ads and works seamlessly with David Stanley of Silverlining Designs. The efforts of Kim Rakes, Grace Cooper, and our entire team are what make a winning product.
“I hope the county sees the work of our fine staff and knows that we have something great here, and we love to show it off,” Houchins said. “In addition to our awards, I was thrilled to see the Outstanding Tourism Partner of the Year award go to One Family Productions. Chris (Prutting), Sarah (Wray), and the group have consistently put on top-quality events that drive tourism for the county, a well-deserved award.”
“Celebrating the contributions and accomplishments of our tourism partners is vital,” said Kim Davis, Executive Director of Friends of Southwest Virginia. “Tourism is a key economic driver in Southwest Virginia, and we’re thrilled to acknowledge these outstanding leaders who tirelessly showcase and market our region to travelers.”
Southwest Virginia tourism professionals submitted over 65 nominations. Winners were selected by a panel of tourism industry professionals from across the Southeastern United States and one judge from England, who carefully reviewed and judged each entry. A complete listing of all of the winners throughout the region can be found at https://friendsofswva.org/.
