Destinations International, a global association of destination organizations and convention and visitors bureaus, based in Potomac Falls, Virginia, announced its 2026 Hall of Fame inductees and the winners of its annual awards program. Recipients will be formally honored at the Destinations International 2026 Annual Convention in Portland, Oregon, this July.
“It is a true privilege to honor these extraordinary leaders and organizations whose dedication and achievements have strengthened their destinations and advanced our industry around the world,” says Don Welsh, president and CEO of Destinations International, in a prepared statement. “Their vision, innovation, and commitment to service have helped shape the future of destination leadership. We are proud to recognize their lasting contributions and grateful to the Destinations International Awards Committee for its thoughtful work in selecting this year’s honorees.”
The Destinations International Hall of Fame was launched in 2014, and this year’s inductees include:
- Jack Berry, former president and CEO of Visit Richmond VA in Virginia
- Virginia Haley, former president of Visit Sarasota County in Florida
- Tracy Kimberlin, former president and CEO of Visit Springfield Illinois
- Ernest Wooden Jr., former president and CEO of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
Within the Destinations International awards program are three accolades: the Spirit of Hospitality Award, Destination Organization Leadership Awards, and the Destination Organization Award for Global Impact.
This year’s recipient of the Spirit of Hospitality Award is Amir Eylon, president and CEO of Longwoods International (a travel and tourism research organization based in Toronto).
The 2026 honorees for the Destination Organization Leadership Awards include Susan Freeman, executive director of Meet Prince Edward Island in northeastern Canada; Maura Gast, executive director of Visit Irving, Texas; Dave Herrell, president and CEO of Illinois’ Visit Quad Cities; and Meet Minneapolis’ President and CEO Melvin Tennant.
The Greater Medellín Convention & Visitors Bureau in Colombia was awarded the Destination Organization Award for Global Impact.
The annual convention will be held at the Oregon Convention Center and is expected to draw some 2,000 industry professionals.
