Honoring a tourism director that has clearly influenced the obvious and measurable improvement of a state’s "travel and tourism profile" with his or her leadership. Each year, such success is measured in relationship to the amount of money and staff that the director has at his or her disposal.
Candidates are nominated by other state tourism directors and a slate of three finalists is presented for selection by ballot.
For more information about the State Tourism Director of the Year award, contact
Congratulations to the 2024 State Tourism Director of the Year
Mike Mangeot
Commissioner, Kentucky Department of Tourism
Previous Winners
2023 State Tourism Director of the Year
DAVID LORENZ
Vice President,
Travel Michigan
2022 State Tourism Director of the Year
WITT TUTTELL
Director
Visit North Carolina
2021 State Tourism Director of the Year
BRAD DEAN
CEO
Discover Puerto Rico
2019 State Tourism Director of the Year
DUANE PARRISH
Director
South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism
2018 State Tourism Director of the Year
SARA OTTE COLEMAN
Director
North Dakota Tourism Division
2017 State Tourism Director of the Year
KYLE EDMISTON
Assistant Secretary
Louisiana Office of Tourism
2016 State Tourism Director of the Year
VICKI VARELA
Director
Utah Office of Tourism, Film & Global Branding
2015 State Tourism Director of the Year
JOHN EDMAN
Director
Explore Minnesota Tourism
2014 State Tourism Director of the Year
JIM HAGEN
Secretary
South Dakota Department of Tourism
2013 State Tourism Director of the Year
SUSAN WHITAKER
Former Commissioner
Tennessee Department of Tourist Development
2012 State Tourism Director of the Year
DIANE SHOBER
Executive Director
Wyoming Office of Tourism
