Attachment Visit Tuscaloosa Squad E1784839317870 — Visit Tuscaloosa team at the annual awards conference. (Visit Tuscaloosa)

Kelsey Rush, president and CEO of Visit Tuscaloosa, earned the Executive of the Year award at the 2026 Alabama Governor’s Conference on Tourism.

“It truly was an honor to be recognized as our Alabama Tourism Department Tourism Executive of the Year. I don’t take this honor lightly, especially as I was surrounded by such seasoned and exceptional executives in the room, but I’m incredibly grateful to say the least. Our industry is special. My peers have offered advice, counsel, insight and a listening ear. Not only are they mentors, but I consider them dear friends.”
Kelsey Rush on social media

Keep reading to learn more about the award + what helped Rush stand out for this year’s award.

Visit Tuscaloosa saw major growth in 2025

Rush has served as Visit Tuscaloosa’s president and CEO since 2022. During her tenure, Visit Tuscaloosa has created:

TuscaLife destination brand
Tuscaloosa Civil Rights Digital Pass
Expanded annual events like Tuscaloosa Restaurant Week + Tuscaloosa Oktoberfest

In 2025, the city made even more gains in the tourism industry. According to the state’s annual tourism report, tourism-related employment in the city was up by 10.9% while travel-related earnings topped $319 million, up 11.7% from 2024.

“My team… this is truly a reflection of them and Visit Tuscaloosa. They’re the best hype team around who loves each other and the community we serve. We also couldn’t accomplish what we do without the support of our funding and hospitality partners. Without them, there is no story to tell.”
Kelsey Rush, Visit Tuscaloosa CEO

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Alabama Tourism Executive of the Year

The annual award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership while making contributions to advancing the state’s tourism industry.

The previous five winners have included: