CHARLESTON, W.Va. — This year’s Almost Heaven Achievement Award winners were recognized Tuesday evening during the 2026 Governor’s Conference for Tourism at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center. The annual Almost Heaven Achievement Awards are an opportunity for the West Virginia Department of Tourism to recognize industry partners across the state for their achievements in advertising, marketing and public relations, as well as their contributions to the state’s tourism industry.
The 2026 Almost Heaven Achievement Award Winners are as follows:
Marketing & Communications Excellence Categories
- Co-Op Campaign of the Year — Mon Forest Towns Partnership
- Digital Innovation Award — Visit Mercer County
- Earned Media Excellence — Jefferson County CVB
- Marketing & Advertising Campaign of the Year — Visit Mountaineer Country CVB
- Print Media Excellence — Marion County CVB
- Special Project of the Year — Mountaineer Gravel & Visit Mountaineer Country CVB
Tourism Industry Honors Categories
- Future of Tourism Award — Charles Evans and the Snowshoe Highlands Area Recreation Collaborative
- Governor’s Award for Regional Tourism Impact — Mon Forest Towns Partnership
- Mountain State Tourism Development Award — River Riders
- Spirit of Almost Heaven Award — West Virginia Botanic Garden Team & Volunteers
- West Virginia Tourism Professional of the Year — Susan Riddle
- West Virginia Tourism Oshel Craigo Lifetime Achievement Award — Mark Lewis
For photos of this year’s award winners, click here. When using, please credit the West Virginia Department of Tourism. For award descriptions and criteria, click here.
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