GOVERNOR'S TOURISM AWARDS
The Governor's Tourism Awards recognize individuals, businesses and destinations that turn creative dreams into exceptional results, leaving a lasting impact on Wisconsin's tourism industry. Nominees are submitted by industry peers and award recipients are announced at the Governor's Dinner.
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. 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.
Award recipients will be announced on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at the Governor's Dinner and Awards Celebration.
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.
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.
Innovation 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.
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 an individual who is new to the industry who has shown leadership, commitment, and passion for Wisconsin tourism. Nominees should have five or fewer years in the industry.
Recognizes an individual who is new to the industry who has 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.
2024 Governor's Tourism Awards Recipients
Arts, Culture & Heritage Award
Paine Art Center and Gardens, Oshkosh
Diversity, Equity, Accessibility & Inclusion Award
Northcott Neighborhood House, Milwaukee
Innovation Award
Destination Door County - Community Investment Fund
Legacy Award
Stephanie Klett, Visit Lake Geneva
Rising Star Award
Haleigh Doyle, Explore La Crosse
Service Excellence Award
Madison Children's Museum - Education, Visitor Services & Outreach Teams
Nominations for 2025 Governor's Tourism Awards will open in late 2024.
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 submit nominations for the awards.
- All nominations must be received by 11:59 p.m. Friday, January 31, 2025, 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 on your device.
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 on your device.
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, 2025
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
2023 Governor's Tourism Award Recipients
Arts, Culture & Heritage Award
John Michael Kohler Arts Center
Diversity, Equity, Accessibility & Inclusion Award
The Ability Center
Innovation Award
Sparta Area Chamber of Commerce - Kriskindlmarkt
Legacy Award
Romy Snyder - President & CEO, Wisconsin Dells Visitors & Convention Bureau
Rising Star Award
Megan Langer - Owner, Port of Prescott/Cove Guest House/Harbor Hotel
Service Excellence Award
The Bartolotta Restaurants
2022 Governor's Tourism Awards Recipients
Arts, Culture & Heritage Award (Tied)
Create Waunakee
Jim Kress - Maritime Lighthouse Tower
Diversity, Equity, Accessibility & Inclusion Award
Unique Unites, Visit Milwaukee
Innovation Award
Wisconsin River Trail Organization
Legacy Award
Sherry Quamme, Mississippi River Parkway Commission/ Great River Road
Rising Star Award (Tied)
Amy Albright, Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau
Lauren Sackett, Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce
Service Excellence Award
Racine Zoo
2021 Governor's Tourism Award Recipients
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 Governor's Tourism Award Recipients
Arts, Culture & Heritage Award
Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel
Legacy Award
Deb Archer President and CEO of Destination Madison
Rising Star Award
Cameryn Kwaterski, Executive Director of Visit Rome
Stewardship Award
Village of Egg Harbor
Service Excellence Award
Heart of Canal Street, Potawatomi Hotel & Casino
2019 Governor's Tourism Awards Recipients
Arts, Culture & Heritage Award
Peninsula School of Art
Legacy Award
Trisha Pugal, CEO/President of WH&L
Rising Star Award
Cambria Mueller, Door County Visitor Bureau
Stewardship Award
Frog Bay Tribal National Park
Service Excellence Award
Lars Johnson, Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant
2018 Governor's Tourism Awards Recipients
Arts, Culture & Heritage Award
Taliesin Preservation
Legacy Award
Kathy Kopp, Platteville Regional Chamber of Commerce
Rising Star Award
Amy Gabay, Explore La Crosse
Service Excellence Award
Ben Popp, American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation
Stewardship Award
Cave of the Mounds
2017 Governor's Tourism Awards Recipients
Arts, Culture & Heritage Award
Brenda DeVita, American Players Theatre
Legacy Award
Gary Knowles, Knowles Communications
Rising Star Award
Scott Liegl, Wausau/Central Wisconsin CVB
Stewardship Award
Joe Klimczak, Cave of the Mounds
Service Excellence Award
Joe Khairallah, Marcus Hotels & Resorts
2016 Governor's Tourism Awards Recipients
Arts, Culture & Heritage Award
Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum
Legacy Award (Tied)
Allen Schroeder, Pendarvis Stonefield Historic Site and First Capitol Historic Site
Charles Wilkenhauser, Milwaukee County Zoo
Rising Star Award
Tim Hyma, Sparta Area Chamber of Commerce
Service Excellence Award
James Bolen, Cable Area Chamber of Commerce
Stewardship Award
Meuer Farm, Chilton
2015 Governor's Tourism Awards Recipients
Arts, Culture & Heritage Award
Racine Art Museum
Dave Clements, La Crosse Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
Rising Star
Brittany Berens, Superior/Douglas County Area Chamber & CVB
Service Excellence
Wausau/Central Wisconsin CVB
Stewardship
Little Lake Wissota Stewardship Project
2014 Governor's Tourism Award Recipients
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 Governor's Tourism Award Recipients
Arts, Culture & Heritage Award
Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua (accepted by Terry Matier, Executive Director)
Legacy Award
Steve Marcus, The Marcus Corporation
Rising Star Award
Kari Dawson, Real Racine
Service Excellence Award
Greg Vreeland, Northwest Wisconsin Mobile Travel Information Center
Stewardship Award
Town of Platteville, Wisconsin (accepted by Kathy Kopp, Platteville Area Chamber of Commerce)
2012 Governor's Tourism Award Recipients
Arts, Culture & Heritage Award
American Folklore Theater
Legacy Award
William “Bill” Otto, Marcus Hotels & Resorts
Rising Star Award
Brenda Krainik, Greater Green Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau
Service Excellence Award
Lake Geneva Cruise Line
Stewardship Award
City of Middleton
2011 Governor's Tourism Award Recipients (Tied)
Legacy Award
Ed Lump, Wisconsin Restaurant Association, Tourism Federation of Wisconsin
Dick Klopcic, Fireside Theatre
Rising Star Award
Jean Galasinki, Trempealeau County Tourism Council, Trempealeau Chamber of Commerce, Mississippi River Parkway Commission
Service Excellence Award
Mike Goodrich, Potawatomi Bingo Casino
Stewardship Award
Town of Bayfield, Wisconsin (accepted by Bayfield Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau)
2010 - First Governor's Tourism Awards
Legacy Award
Ruth Goetz
Rising Star Award
Theresa Nemetz, Milwaukee Food Tours
Service Excellence Award
Scott Krause, Heidel House Resort & Spa
Stewardship Award
Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center