Nominations due Nov. 9 for Southern Delaware Tourism Awards

Tourism is a $1.7 billion industry in Sussex County, and it is growing. In fact, nearly 16 percent of all jobs in the county – about 17,000 of them – are tourism-related. And tourism revenue saves each Delaware household nearly $1,400 in taxes each year. This is due, in large part, to the county’s fortunate geographical location and beautiful five-star beaches, but it’s also the result of a lot of initiative, creativity, planning and hard work by the many people and organizations who strive to keep up with changing travel trends, and create and provide the types of attractions, events, activities and services that drive visitors to Sussex County.

In recognition and appreciation of this, Southern Delaware Tourism is opening nominations for its 2018 awards.

Area residents and businesses are asked to nominate groups or individuals who have made significant contributions to the tourism industry in Sussex County between October 2017 and October 2018. To be considered, nominations must be completed and submitted by Friday, Nov. 9. The winners, selected by an impartial panel of judges, will be announced in December.

“Tourism is a huge economic engine for Sussex County,” said Scott Thomas, executive director of Southern Delaware Tourism. “This is our way of honoring those that have gone above and beyond to contribute to the tourism industry in our area. We encourage everyone to consider who they think may be worthy recipients of these awards, and to nominate them.”

SDT encourages nominations of new contenders as well as previously nominated entrants that have not yet won an award.

The categories and criteria for each are: Best Event: Visitation draw, uniqueness, out-of-area promotion, helping spotlight Sussex County as a destination: Best New Event (for first-time events held in Sussex County): Visitation draw, uniqueness, out-of-area promotion, helping spotlight Sussex County as a destination; Best Attraction: Visitation draw, tourism economic impact to the community, group friendliness, collaboration with accommodations; Tourism Partner of the Year (business or organization): Collaboration and participation with Southern Delaware Tourism and/or chambers of commerce in Sussex County.

Last year’s recipients of the annual awards included Best Event: Dogfish Dash; Best New Event: Winter WonderFest; Best Attraction: Lefty’s Alley & Eats; and Tourism Partner of the Year: Delaware Beach Book.

Past recipients of the annual awards also include Return Day, First Annual Boo-B-Que by the Sea, Cape Henlopen State Park’s Gordons Pond Trail and Junction & Breakwater Trail, Western Sussex Tourism Committee, The Freeman Stage at Bayside, Nassau Valley Vineyards, the Apple Scrapple Festival, Dogfish Head Brewery Tours, the Rehoboth Beach Film Festival, the Lewes Maritime History Trail, the Ocean to Bay Bike Tour, Eating Rehoboth Walking Food Tours and The Sea Witch Halloween and Fiddlers’ Festival.

To see nomination forms and instructions for the 2018 Southern Delaware Tourism Awards, go to www.VisitSouthernDelaware.com/tourism-award-nomination or call 302-856-1818.