Explore Minnesota Tourism Awards
The Explore Minnesota Tourism Awards celebrate the outstanding people, marketing and initiatives that help make Minnesota a premier travel destination.
To be considered for an award, you must complete and submit a nomination form in the appropriate category. For each nomination, provide a project summary including examples, goals, results, return on investment (ROI) and accomplishments. Supporting documents and creative elements should be uploaded with the nomination and will help the Explore Minnesota review committee score each submission.
Nominations will close at 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Finalists will be announced in early December. If selected as a finalist, you will receive instructions on how to submit a summary video, up to 2 minutes in length, showcasing your campaign or initiative. These summary videos will serve as a preview of the tourism awards to conference attendees and will be shown prior to lunch on the second day of the conference. Awards will be presented on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2027.
Categories for the 2027 Explore Minnesota Tourism Awards are as follows:
Outstanding Marketing Campaign (for total organizational budgets under $1,000,000)
This award recognizes an innovative marketing campaign that has demonstrated exceptional creativity, innovation, and effectiveness. The campaign could have utilized a variety of channels, including digital media, social platforms, and traditional outlets, to successfully promote a destination.
Outstanding Marketing Campaign (for total organizational budgets over $1,000,000)
This award recognizes an innovative marketing campaign that has demonstrated exceptional creativity, innovation, and effectiveness. The campaign could have utilized a variety of channels, including digital media, social platforms and traditional outlets, to successfully promote a destination.
Social Media Excellence
This award recognizes exceptional social media campaigns or initiatives that showcase originality, brand consistency and creativity. Campaigns should effectively engage audiences on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and others. Nominees should provide metrics with accompanying analytics, engagement data, and other relevant dashboard information.
Outstanding Video
The Outstanding Video Award recognizes tourism organizations that have produced unique and innovative video content showcasing their destination’s distinctive attributes. Nominations should highlight the creative process, the video’s practical use in marketing campaigns, and any measurable results achieved. This award celebrates the power of video to inspire travel and drive economic impact.
Best Destination Website
This award recognizes a new or refreshed website that has significantly enhanced the visitor experience, providing exceptional features such as interactive mapping, robust search functionality, personalized recommendations, or seamless social media integration. The winning website will demonstrate innovation and a commitment to providing a truly outstanding digital experience for travel planners.
One Minnesota Award
Recognizing collaborative efforts of three or more organizations or entities, this award will be presented to an outstanding tourism project, initiative or campaign designed to advance tourism for a community, area or business district. Nominees should detail how they worked together to address a challenge or opportunity and how the collaboration benefited each partner.
Emerging Leader
This award recognizes an individual who has joined Minnesota's tourism industry within the last five years. The Emerging Leader exhibits a passion for Minnesota's tourism and hospitality industry, is mindful of their role in making the state a welcoming place for all travelers, and through their work ensures the future growth and vitality of Minnesota tourism.