GOVERNOR'S TOURISM AWARDS
The Governor’s Tourism Awards recognize individuals and businesses in the travel and tourism industry who turn BIG DREAMS into exceptional results and leave a lasting impact on Wisconsin tourism. Presented at the Governor's Dinner & Awards Celebration, the awards highlight and celebrate all the success of the past year.
The awards are supported by the Wisconsin Tourism Council and nominations can come from industry peers or yourself. Help celebrate Wisconsin tourism and submit nominations for impactful people, projects, events, destinations, and promotions that make our industry exceptional. Award categories and submission details are listed below.
2023 nominations are now closed. Award recipients will be announced on Tuesday, March 14, 2023.
Award Categories
Arts, Culture & Heritage Award
Presented to a business or destination that showcases the arts, culture, or heritage for the enhancement of the tourism experience and economic well-being of a community.
Presented to a business or destination that showcases the arts, culture, or heritage for the enhancement of the tourism experience and economic well-being of a community.
Tourism Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, & Inclusion Award
Identifies a business or destination that has demonstrated leadership in raising awareness or facilitating change to build a more inclusive and welcoming environment for visitors.
Identifies a business or destination that has demonstrated leadership in raising awareness or facilitating change to build a more inclusive and welcoming environment for visitors.
Tourism Innovation Award
This award recognizes a business or community that has implemented a new strategy that has positively impacted their organization and/or destination through an innovative approach in technology, sustainability, adaptivity and/or the implementation of best practices.
This award recognizes a business or community that has implemented a new strategy that has positively impacted their organization and/or destination through an innovative approach in technology, sustainability, adaptivity and/or the implementation of best practices.
Legacy Award
Awarded to an individual who has shown a long-lasting and permanent contribution to the industry. Nominees should have 25 years or more of distinguished services to the tourism industry, including at least 15 years in Wisconsin.
Awarded to an individual who has shown a long-lasting and permanent contribution to the industry. Nominees should have 25 years or more of distinguished services to the tourism industry, including at least 15 years in Wisconsin.
Rising Star Award
Recognizes individuals who are new to the industry who have shown leadership, commitment, and passion for Wisconsin tourism. Nominees should have five or fewer years in the industry.
Recognizes individuals who are new to the industry who have shown leadership, commitment, and passion for Wisconsin tourism. Nominees should have five or fewer years in the industry.
Service Excellence Award
Recipient is a business or individual that has achieved significant success and growth by providing exceptional service to customers, as well as a strong, charitable involvement in the community.
2022 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Rising Star Award (Tied):
Amy Albright, Oshkosh Convention &
Visitors Bureau
Lauren Sackett, Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce
Innovation Award:
WI River Trail Organization
Tourism Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, & Inclusion Award:
Unique Unites, Visit Milwaukee
Arts, Culture, & Heritage Award (Tied):
Create Waunakee
Jim Kress Maritime Lighthouse Tower
Service Excellence Award:
Racine Zoo
Legacy Award:
Sherry Quamme, MI River Parkway Commission/WI Great River Road
Submit an award nomination
Please review the following criteria carefully before completing your nomination:
- Nominations should be submitted electronically using the link below.
- An individual or organization may only submit one nomination per category.
- Multiple submissions for a single nominee will be reviewed and ranked as one nomination.
- Should a Governor’s Tourism Awards Committee Member be nominated, that member may not participate in the discussion of, or submit a vote on, the award in the category in which they were nominated.
- Current Department of Tourism staff may not be nominated nor make nominations for the awards.
- All nominations must be received by the end of the day Tuesday, January 31, 2023 to be eligible for consideration.
Submission Process
Nomination Forms - Step One
1. Choose the applicable nomination category from a starred box below and click on DOWNLOAD to access an award nomination form. Forms are in a Word document format.
2. Complete the award nomination form and save it as a Word document.
1. Choose the applicable nomination category from a starred box below and click on DOWNLOAD to access an award nomination form. Forms are in a Word document format.
2. Complete the award nomination form and save it as a Word document.
Submission Portal - Step Two
1. Click on the submission portal link below to complete a registration form.
2. After you have completed a registration form, upload your completed nomination form from Step One.
3. After you have completed the registration form AND uploaded your nomination form, you are ready to submit.
If the submission portal isn't accepting your nomination, please email your Word document to Heidi Schultz at hschultz@travelwisconsin.com.
SubMission deadline is
January 31, 2023
Questions
Please contact Heidi Schultz at (608) 261-6272 or hschultz@travelwisconsin.com with any questions regarding the nomination process. Any website issues/questions can be directed to Dawn Zanoni at dzanoni@travelwisconsin.com.
Past Award Recipients
2021
Award for Arts, Culture, & Heritage: Wormfarm Institute's Farm Art D'Tour
Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, & Inclusion Award: Rep Forward and Chief Diversity Officer Tammy Belton-Davis of Milwaukee Repertory Theater
Rising Star Award: Claire Koenig, Communications Director of VISIT Milwaukee
Service Excellence Award: Employee Meal Program, Geronimo Hospitality Group
Stewardship Award: Mammoth Hike Challenge, Ice Age Trail Alliance
2020
Rising Star Award: Cameryn Kwaterski, Executive Director of Visit Rome
Stewardship Award: Village of Egg Harbor
Award for Arts, Culture, & Heritage: Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel
Service Excellence Award: Heart of Canal Street, Potawatomi Hotel & Casino
Legacy Award: Deb Archer President and CEO of Destination Madison
2019
Rising Star Award: Cambria Mueller, Door County Visitor Bureau
Stewardship Award: Frog Bay Tribal National Park
Award for Arts, Culture, & Heritage: Peninsula School of Art
Service Excellence Award: Lars Johnson, Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant
Legacy Award: Trisha Pugal, CEO/President of WH&L
2018
Rising Star Award: Amy Gabay, Explore La Crosse
Stewardship Award: Cave of the Mounds
Award for Arts, Culture, & Heritage: Taliesin Preservation
Service Excellence Award: Ben Popp, American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation
Legacy Award: Kathy Kopp, Platteville Regional Chamber of Commerce
2017
Rising Star: Scott Liegl, Wausau/Central Wisconsin CVB
Stewardship: Joe Klimczak, Cave of the Mounds
Arts, Culture & Heritage: Brenda DeVita, American Players Theatre
Service Excellence: Joe Khairallah, Marcus Hotels & Resorts
Legacy: Gary Knowles, Knowles Communications
2016
Rising Star: Tim Hyma, Sparta Area Chamber of Commerce
Stewardship: Meuer Farm, Chilton
Arts, Culture & Heritage: Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum
Service Excellence: James Bolen, Cable Area Chamber of Commerce
Legacy: Allen Schroeder, Pendarvis Stonefield Historic Site and First Capitol Historic Site; Charles Wilkenhauser, Milwaukee County Zoo
2015
Rising Star: Brittany Berens, Superior/Douglas County Area Chamber & CVB
Stewardship: Little Lake Wissota Stewardship Project
Arts, Culture & Heritage: Racine Art Museum
Service Excellence: Wausau/Central Wisconsin CVB
Legacy: Dave Clements, La Crosse Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
2014
Rising Star: Michelle Voight, Washburn County Tourism Association
Stewardship: Pinehurst Inn
Arts, Culture & Heritage: Peninsula Players Theatre
Service Excellence: Monona Terrace Convention Center
Legacy: Lola Roeh, General Manager, The Osthoff Resort
2013
Rising Star: Kari Dawson, Real Racine
Stewardship: Town of Platteville, Wisconsin (accepted by Kathy Kopp, Platteville Area Chamber of Commerce)
Arts, Culture & Heritage: Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua (accepted by Terry Matier, Executive Director)
Service Excellence: Greg Vreeland, Northwest Wisconsin Mobile Travel Information Center
Legacy: Steve Marcus, The Marcus Corporation
2012
Rising Star: Brenda Krainik, Greater Green Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau
Stewardship: City of Middleton
Arts, Culture & Heritage: American Folklore Theater
Service Excellence: Lake Geneva Cruise Line
Legacy: William “Bill” Otto, Marcus Hotels & Resorts
2011
Rising Star: Jean Galasinki, Trempealeau County Tourism Council, Trempealeau Chamber of Commerce, Mississippi River Parkway Commission
Stewardship: Town of Bayfield, Wisconsin (accepted by Bayfield Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau)
Service Excellence: Mike Goodrich, Potawatomi Bingo Casino
Legacy: Ed Lump, Wisconsin Restaurant Association, Tourism Federation of Wisconsin; Dick Klopcic, Fireside Theatre
2010 - First Year
Rising Star: Theresa Nemetz, Milwaukee Food Tours
Stewardship: Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center
Service Excellence: Scott Krause, Heidel House Resort & Spa
Legacy: Ruth Goetz