Alabama Tourism honors the best and brightest in the industry

Last month in Tuscaloosa, the Alabama Tourism Department recognized its 2024 award winners during the annual Alabama Governor’s Conference on Tourism. 

Read on to learn more about the awards + the winners. 

15 Alabama Tourism Awards for 2024

This year’s banquet was by all accounts one of the best-attended tourism award presentations ever. Lee Sentell, the director of Alabama Tourism since 2003, gave out the awards while Chris Stewart, the Voice of the University of Alabama Football, was the Master of Ceremonies. 

15 awards were presented during the ceremony with categories ranging from Best Welcome Center to Tourism Organization of the Year.

Here are the 2024 Governor’s Conference on Tourism award winners:

• Directors Award – Pete Conroy with Jacksonville State University 
• Government Advocate Award – Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox Tourism
• Partnership of the Year – Dr. Tina Jones & Black Belt Region Partners 
• Lifetime Achievement Award – Bart Williams
• Alabama Tourism Department’s Employee of the Year – Grey Brennan
• Alabama Welcome Center of the Year– Ardmore Welcome Center
• Tourism Executive of the Year – Sue Pilkilton, Director of Ivy Green, Birthplace of Helen Keller
• Tourism Industry Employee of the Year – Todd Scholl
• Rising Star– Lydia Pennington, Executive Director of Tourism for Alabama Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce
• Tourism Media Advocate – Marie Waxel, anchor at WAAY 31 in Huntsville
• Event of the Year – Guntersville Lake HydroFest
• Governor’s Tourism Award – Tonja Carter
• Theme Campaign Award – Explore Cuba! By Exploreum Science Center in Mobile
• Tourism Organization of the Year – Colbert County Tourism
• Alabama Tourism Hall of Fame – Tami Reist, Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association

Alabama Tourism is on a roll

Tourism in Alabama has grown dramatically in the last few years. For example, tourism spending in our state has doubled in the past decade from $11 billion in 2013 to $22.3 billion in 2022.

Thanks to these groups and individuals tourism continues to expand in every corner of the state.

Have you visited many of Alabama’s tourist attractions? Tell us your favorite on social media by tagging us on social media at @thebamabuzz