Arkansas Tourism has announced nominations are now open for the 2024 Henry Awards honoring excellence in Arkansas’ tourism industry. The Henry Awards have been a feature of the annual Arkansas Governor’s Conference on Tourism since the debut in 1981 and are named for Henri de Tonti, the founder of Arkansas Post, who is hailed as the first “Arkansas Traveler.”
To submit a nomination visit ArkansasGovernorsConference.com. The last day for submissions is Tuesday, Oct. 31.
In 2023, two locals received Henry Awards including Norma Sims of Harrison for the Tourism Person of the Year; and Grace Pepler of Dogwood Hills Guest Farm in Harriet for the Rising Star Award.
Award categories include:
The Natural State Tourism Award: presented to a community organization, special event or attraction for an innovative project that “stands out from the crowd” because of its unique appeal or creative approach that increases community pride and placemaking;
The Tourism Organization of the Year: presented to a convention and visitors bureau, advertising and promotion commission, chamber of commerce or other entity for excellence over the course of the previous year;
The Rising Star Award: presented to a young tourism professional in recognition of specific accomplishments, demonstrated leadership and commitment to the industry;
The Tourism Region of the Year: presented to one of Arkansas’ 12 Regional Tourist Associations for excellence over the course of the previous year;
The Tourism Person of the Year: selected by former honorees and presented to an individual who has been actively involved in tourism and made a substantial contribution within the past year to the betterment of the tourism industry; and
The Tourism Hall of Fame Award: recognizes individuals who have been actively involved for many years in tourism and have made substantial contributions to the betterment of the industry.
The 2024 awards ceremony will take place at the Arkansas Governor’s Conference on Tourism Feb. 25-27 2024 in Jonesboro. The event marks the 50th anniversary of the annual gathering of the Arkansas tourism industry.
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