The New York State Tourism Industry Association (NYSTIA) honored the recipients of the 2023 NYS Tourism Excellence Awards at a special ceremony at the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York on September 14, 2023 as part of the organization’s annual meeting.

Akwesasne Travel received the Excellence in Sustainable Stewardship: Champions of Change award for fostering genuine connections through art and experiences that perpetuate Akwesasne’s cultural heritage.

“We are honored to be recognized by NYSTIA as Champions of Change,” said Akwesasne Travel Manager Penny Peters. “Cultural and environmental stewardship are pillars of Akwesasne Travel’s tourism program. As Onkwehon:we (original people), we are guided by traditional teachings of community living, seventh generation planning and the interconnection of all things. We work with our tour suppliers to design itineraries that encourage, educate, and share these practices with our visitors. To be recognized for these efforts is very meaningful as we continue to develop and market Akwesasne’s tourism industry.”

This year’s New York State Tourism Excellence Awards included multiple new awards categories to acknowledge the critical work done in advancing the areas of sustainability, DEAI (diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion), international marketing, travel itineraries, and promoting the great outdoors of New York State. The pool of awards nominations was extraordinarily competitive, surpassing 2022’s total by 40 percent.

“The outstanding work of New York State’s tourism professionals contributed significantly to the post-COVID resurgence of New York State’s tourism industry,” remarked Kelly Curtin, Board Chair of the New York State Tourism Industry Association. “The efforts of both the 2023 New York State Tourism Excellence Award nominees and recipients epitomize the concept of best practice destination marketing, management and stewardship. My admiration and congratulations to all!”

The New York State Tourism Excellence Awards are open to all New York State tourism marketers and are juried by an impartial panel of industry experts under the auspices of the New York State Tourism Industry Association. Nominees spanned every corner of New York State and judges were challenged by the diversity and quality of the entries.

“The campaigns, initiatives, and projects submitted for the 2023 Tourism Excellence Awards illustrate the world-class work being done by New York’s tourism professionals,” observed Bob Provost, President of the New York State Tourism Industry Association. “The caliber of the work nominated this year, coupled with the 40% YOY increase in nominations challenged the judges who reviewed and scored this year’s entries.”