Visit Indian River County wins two awards
Visit Indian River County has received two 2026 Shining Example Awards from the Southeast Tourism Society, earning Tourism Office of the Year — $1 Million or Less and Best Tourism Marketing — $500,000-$999,999 Marketing Budget.
The awards were presented during the society’s Shining Example Awards ceremony, held as part of its annual Connections conference in Richmond, Virginia.
The recognition marks the first time Visit Indian River County has received awards from the Southeast Tourism Society, a milestone for Indian River County’s official destination marketing office.
The Southeast Tourism Society represents tourism professionals and organizations across 14 jurisdictions: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C. The Shining Example Awards recognize outstanding contributions to travel and tourism across the region, honoring work that demonstrates excellence, innovation and measurable impact.
“This is an incredible honor for Visit Indian River County and for our entire community,” said Ben Earman, vice president of tourism and marketing for Visit Indian River County. “To receive not one, but two Shining Example Awards from the Southeast Tourism Society is incredibly meaningful. We are competing alongside major tourism organizations from across the Southeast, so this recognition carries tremendous weight and validates the work we do.”
The Tourism Office of the Year — $1 Million or Less award recognizes destination organizations for excellence in tourism marketing, promotion, public relations, innovation, organizational performance, budget management and teamwork. The Best Tourism Marketing — $500,000-$999,999 Budget award honors destination marketing campaigns that show strategic thinking, creativity, strong execution and measurable results. Visit Indian River County was recognized for its “WHY IRC” branding and marketing campaign.
Visit Indian River County operates with a two-person tourism marketing team and has expanded its destination marketing through digital advertising, streaming television and audio, social media, public relations, content development, video, partnerships and visitor-focused initiatives.
The organization uses data and analytics to identify high-value audiences and markets, measure campaign performance and refine its marketing strategy to maximize the impact of tourism promotion dollars.
“We may be a small team, but we are competing on a very big stage,” Earman said. “These awards demonstrate what is possible when you combine a great destination with strategic marketing, data-driven decision-making, creativity and a tremendous amount of passion for Indian River County.”
Visit Indian River County serves as the official destination marketing office for Vero Beach, Sebastian and Fellsmere, promoting the county to prospective visitors and supporting the local tourism economy. Its work focuses on increasing awareness of Indian River County, encouraging overnight visitation, extending visitor stays and showcasing the destination’s beaches, outdoor recreation, arts and culture, culinary experiences, history, nature and locally driven experiences.
The two awards add to Visit Indian River County’s industry accolades and further establish the organization as a recognized destination marketing organization in Florida and the Southeast.
“These awards are a reflection of the entire community,” Earman said. “Our hospitality partners, attractions, restaurants, event organizers, businesses and residents all help create the experiences that give visitors a reason to choose Indian River County. We are proud to tell that story and honored to see our destination recognized alongside some of the best tourism organizations in the Southeast.”
About Visit Indian River County
Visit Indian River County is the official destination marketing office for Indian River County, Florida. The organization promotes Vero Beach, Sebastian and Fellsmere as a destination for leisure travel, meetings, events and outdoor recreation. Through strategic marketing, partnerships and visitor services, Visit Indian River County works to strengthen the local tourism economy and showcase experiences throughout the county.
For more information, visit www.visitindianrivercounty.com or follow @visitindianriver on social media.
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