Southeast Tourism Society Announces 2025 Shining Example Award Winners
Roswell, GA (September 22, 2025) – Southeast Tourism Society announced the recipients of the 2025 Shining Example Awards during their annual Connections Conference held in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Each year leaders in tourism are chosen by a selection committee to receive these prestigious awards for their accomplishments in tourism marketing, revenue growth and individual contributions to the industry.
Awards were presented in 14 categories, including the Chairman’s Award and the Dorothy Hardman “Spirit of STS” Award. Jill Kidder, President and CEO of Visit Baton Rouge was awarded the Chairman’s Award for her outstanding leadership in the Southeast. The Dorothy Hardman “Spirit of STS Award” went to Melanie Beauchamp, Assistant Commissioner of Rural Tourism & Outreach for the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. The Partnership Award for effective partnerships within the tourism industry went to Visit Lake Charles for The Spirit of Louisiana.
• The Rising Star Award went to Tyler Duplantis, of Explore Houma (LA).
• The Double Decker Festival won the 2025 Event or Festival of the Year Award.
• Perry Historical Museum won The Escape to the Southeast® (ETTS) Travel Attraction of the Year Award.
Three awards for best marketing are judged on creativity, demographics, research, and the overall success of the campaign.
Best Marketing Awards:
• Tifton Tift County Tourism Association (GA) won for Best Marketing Campaign with a budget of $100,00-$499,000.
• Visit The Northshore (LA) won for Best Marketing Campaign with a budget of $500,000 - $999,000.
• Visit Jackson (MS), won for Best Marketing Campaign with a budget of $1 million or more.
Judged on niche market viability and a distinct quality of unique, original, and creative thought, Mississippi Tourism Association won the Best Niche Marketing Award.
Visit Oxford received the Best Digital Marketing Award for their use of digital media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, website, digital advertising campaign, podcast, etc.) to promote their destination.
Overall tourism success is the focus of two of the most coveted Shining Example Awards, Tourism Office of the Year. This year’s winner with a budget over $1 million is the Visit The Northshore. Taking home the award in the category of a budget under $1 million is Visit Hickory (NC).
One Shining Example award was given in recognition to an individual contribution to the travel and tourism industry:
• The FiredUp! Culture Beacon Award, which honors outstanding tourism leadership over their career, went to Kyle Edmiston, President and CEO of Visit Lake Charles.
###
About Southeast Tourism Society Southeast Tourism Society (STS) is a not-for-profit membership association dedicated to the development of travel and tourism professionals and organizations within the southeast region. The association’s mission is to empower a diverse network of tourism professionals through Education, Advocacy, Recognition, and Networking. Member states include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
Download a pdf copy of this press release…
