West Virginia Department of Tourism Announces 2024 Stars of Almost Heaven Award Winners
Governor Justice receives lifetime achievement award
Charleston, WV – This year’s Stars of Almost Heaven award winners were recognized Tuesday evening during the 2024 Governor’s Conference on Tourism at the Clay Center in Charleston.
The annual Stars of Almost Heaven Awards are an opportunity for the West Virginia Department of Tourism to recognize industry partners from across the state for their outstanding achievements in advertising, marketing and public relations, as well as their contributions to the tourism industry in West Virginia. Award nominations were voted upon by a committee of marketing experts and professionals.
“The Stars of Almost Heaven awards ceremony allows tourism professionals from around the state to gather and reflect on all the great work we are doing to promote West Virginia as a top-tier travel destination,” said West Virginia Tourism Secretary Chelsea Ruby. “Governor Justice was awarded the Oshel Craigo Lifetime Achievement Award, which couldn’t be more fitting for the tourism industry’s biggest cheerleader over the past seven years. Tourism in West Virginia would not be where it is today were it not for his leadership and support. Congratulations to all of our winners and a big thank you to our wonderful industry partners who work tirelessly to make Almost Heaven a better place to live, work and travel.””
The 2024 Stars of Almost Heaven award recipients are as follows:
Advertising/Public Relations Categories
- Overall Earned Media | Visit Mercer County Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Overall Marketing & Advertising Campaign | Pocahontas County Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Cooperative Advertising | New River Gorge Convention and Visitors Bureau, Visit Southern WV, Visit Fayetteville
- Digital Media | Pocahontas County Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Print Media | Greenbrier County Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Special Projects | USA Cycling Pro Road National Championships / Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau
Industry Recognition Categories
- Governor’s Award for Regional Cooperation | Lewis County Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Spirit of West Virginia Award | West Virginia Highlands Conservancy
- The Mountain State Award for Economic Development | Woodlands Development & Lending, Tygart Hotel, and Taylor Hospitality
- The Future of Tourism | Visit Mountaineer Country Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Oshel Craigo Lifetime Achievement Award | Governor Jim Justice
- West Virginia Tourism Professional of the Year Award | Chef Paul Smith
Image gallery linked here. Photo credit: West Virginia Department of Tourism
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This post was last updated on September 16, 2024