Best of US Awards
Help us shine a spotlight on the local businesses, attractions and individuals who make Columbus a must-visit destination by submitting your nominations for the Best of US Awards.
The 2026 awards honoring the stars of our industry will be presented during TourismUS: Celebrating the Power of Tourism on Oct. 1, 2026, at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Five awards will be given out, and current Experience Columbus partners are welcome to nominate themselves or others. Nominations must be reflective of work that occurred from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2025.
Nomination deadline: Friday, July 24, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern
Award Descriptions
Collaborator of the Year: Small Business/Organization
This award is given to a current Experience Columbus partner with less than 50 full-time employees who demonstrated their leadership in the tourism industry in 2025 by creating an event, initiative or program that epitomizes Columbus’ collaborative spirit by involving multiple partners working together to provide meaningful impact. The nomination must include measurable results and share a compelling story about how the project promoted Columbus as a must-visit destination.
View a sample nomination form.
Submit your nomination by July 24 here.
Collaborator of the Year: Large Business/Organization
This award is given to a current Experience Columbus partner with 50 or more full-time employees who demonstrated their leadership in the tourism industry in 2025 by creating an event, initiative or program that epitomizes Columbus’ collaborative spirit by involving multiple partners working together to provide meaningful impact. The nomination must include measurable results and share a compelling story about how the project promoted Columbus as a must-visit destination.
View a sample nomination form.
Submit your nomination by July 24 here.
Tourism Champion: Small Business/Organization
This award is given to a current Experience Columbus partner with less than 50 full-time employees who is dedicated to advancing the travel economy. In 2025, they led a major initiative that will enhance Columbus’ offerings and appeal to visitors. Honorees could be an existing business/organization that developed a new exhibition or event, or a brand-new restaurant, business or attraction. The nomination must include measurable results.
View a sample nomination form.
Submit your nomination by July 24 here.
Tourism Champion: Large Business/Organization
This award is given to a current Experience Columbus partner with 50 or more full-time employees who is dedicated to advancing the travel economy. In 2025, they led a major initiative that will enhance Columbus’ offerings and appeal to visitors. Honorees could be an existing business/organization that developed a new exhibition or event, or a brand-new restaurant, business or attraction. The nomination must include measurable results.
View a sample nomination form.
Submit your nomination by July 24 here.
Experience Columbus Insider of the Year
The Experience Columbus Insider of the Year Award recognizes an individual for their outstanding contributions to the Columbus community and hospitality industry in 2025. The nomination should include examples of how the nominee is passionate about promoting the Columbus region to visitors and encouraging residents to explore their city. Nominations are evaluated on the quality of the narrative. Only one application per person will be considered.
Note: In future years, the honoree will be selected from the winners of the ECI of the Quarter Awards so be sure to nominate yourself or others during the quarterly deadlines.
View a sample nomination form.
Submit your nomination by July 24 here.
2024 Best of US Award Winners
(awards presented in 2025)
Previous Recipients
2023 Winners:
- Trailblazer of the Year – Small Business: Stonewall Columbus, Inc.
- Trailblazer of the Year – Corporate Business/Attraction: The Junto
- Tourism Champion – Small Business: Historic Trolley District
- Tourism Champion – Corporate Business/Attraction: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
- ECI of the Year - Joe Kapferer
Do I have to be a current Experience Columbus partner to submit?
Yes, to be considered for a 2025 Best of US Award you must be a current Experience Columbus partner as of the nomination deadline of July 24, 2026.
Not sure of your partnership status? Please contact Olivia Karpp at okarp@experiencecolumbus.com.
What is the deadline to submit?
Nominations must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Friday, July 24, 2026.
What timeframe should the work be from?
All nominations must reflect work completed between Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2025. If the project spanned multiple years, the culminating event/moment must have occurred in the 2025 calendar year.
Is there a cost to submit a nomination?
No, there is no fee to submit a nomination!
Should I submit multiple nominations for the same person or organization?
No. Nominations are evaluated on the quality of the narrative, not the number of nominations a person receives. Please put your effort into crafting a compelling nomination that has a clear story and measurable results.
Did you make changes to awards categories and descriptions this year?
Yes, we adjusted the titles of some of our awards and the descriptions for added clarity.
Can I submit the same nomination to multiple categories?
No, please do not submit nominations in multiple categories as organizations/businesses can only win one award. Please select the best category that suits your project and submit one compelling nomination.
What makes a good nomination?
Our judging committee reviews dozens of nominations, so we encourage you to work with your marketing or communications team (if applicable) on crafting a nomination. Make sure your narrative is compelling and clear. Address any research or background information, the goals and objectives of your project and share measurable results.
To complete a nomination, you will fill out a simple online form. No supporting materials such as PDFs or letters of support are needed. You are welcome to include relevant URLs in your nomination, but please include the full URL.
Who are the judges?
An independent judging committee comprised of local tourism leaders select the winners. Experience Columbus staff do not take part in the judging process. If a judge works for the business or organization being nominated, they opt out of judging that category to avoid any conflict of interests.
When are the winners recognized and is there a prize?
All award winners are recognized at Experience Columbus’ annual meeting, TourismUS: Celebrating the Power of Tourism! Trophies are awarded to all honorees.
Do I have to be present at TourismUS to win?
No, but please consider sending at least one representative from your organization or business to the event to accept the award on your behalf. All honorees are called to the stage to be recognized.
How is the ECI of the Year Award different from the new ECI of the Quarter Award?
The ECI of the Year Award recognizes the most outstanding ECI from the 2025 calendar year. This year, we introduced a new quarterly awards program. Beginning in 2027, we will select the ECI of the Year Award winner from the quarterly honorees.
Will winners be notified in advance of the event?
Winners are not notified in advance, but nominees are notified so they can be sure to attend the event and bring their family, friends and colleagues.
Who do I contact if I have questions?
Please contact Katie Baker at Kbaker@ExperienceColumbus.com with any questions.
