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State Tourism Director of the Year

Celebrating Visionary Leadership in State Tourism

Presented in partnership with the National Council of State Tourism Directors (NCSTD), the State Tourism Director of the Year Award is one of travel’s highest honors — recognizing an exceptional leader who has made a lasting impact on travel and tourism in their state and across the industry. 

This award celebrates a state tourism director whose vision, innovation and leadership have driven measurable success, elevating their state’s profile. Honorees have demonstrated outstanding ability to maximize resources, inspire their teams and create meaningful economic impact through travel and tourism. 

Nominated by their NCSTD peers, award recipients represent the best of state tourism leadership — those who push our industry forward and champion bold ideas to promote travel and tourism in their state. 

For more information about the State Tourism Director of the Year Award, please contact [email protected].

Congratulations to the 2025 State Tourism Director of the Year

DIANE SHOBER

Executive Director
Wyoming Office of Tourism

ESTO Awards 2025

Previous Winners

2024 State Tourism Director of the Year

MIKE MANGEOT
Commissioner
Kentucky Department of Tourism

2023 State Tourism Director of the Year

DAVID LORENZ
Vice President
Travel Michigan

2022 State Tourism Director of the Year

WIT 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