Florida’s tourism industry is recognizing some of the state’s most creative and effective marketing efforts through the 2026 Flagler Awards.
The winners were announced on Sept. 9 during VISIT FLORIDA’s annual Florida Governor’s Conference on Tourism in West Palm Beach. The awards were presented during the conference’s Chairman’s Dinner, alongside the announcement of the 2026 Florida Tourism Hall of Fame inductee.
Nearly 300 Entries Submitted for 2026 Flagler Awards
Now in their 26th year, the Flagler Awards recognize outstanding tourism marketing initiatives throughout Florida. The program is open to individuals, private businesses, and nonprofit organizations that offer a product or service promoting tourism to or within the state.
The 2026 awards drew nearly 300 entries from organizations of all sizes. An independent panel of 14 judges evaluated submissions based on creativity, innovation, production quality, and effectiveness.
Awards were presented in 18 categories, with Bronze, Silver, and Henry Awards given based on the judges’ scores. The Henry Award represents the highest-scoring entry in each category and is named in honor of Henry Flagler. Best in Show awards were also presented across four budget divisions.
2026 Flagler Award Winners
This year’s winners represented a wide range of tourism marketing, including digital advertising, public relations, social media, sustainability, special events, websites, and more.
Specialty Marketing
- Bronze: Amelia Island CVB – “Amelia Island Dining Month”
- Silver: Visit Jacksonville – “Soul of Surf 2.0: Sea Gals & Board Stories”
- Henry: Visit Tampa Bay – “Doggone Summer: Tampa Bay Unleashed”
Websites
- Bronze: St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches VCB – Nights of Lights App 2025
- Bronze: Visit Sebring – VisitSebring.com
- Silver: Visit Florida Keys & Key West – “Next-Generation Website for the Future of Destination Marketing”
- Silver: Visit Pensacola – Beach+ Microsite
- Henry: New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau – New Smyrna Beach Area Website Redesign
Direct Marketing
- Bronze: Franklin County Tourist Development Council – Forgotten Coast Newsletter
- Silver: Destination Panama City – “Adventure Letters”
- Henry: Fort Myers – Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods – Fort Myers Neighborhood Email Series
Digital Advertising
- Bronze: Visit Tampa Bay – “Corporate Transient: From Clicks to Corporate Stays”
- Silver: Florida’s Sports Coast – “Life’s A Game”
- Henry: Walton County Tourism – “The Precision Pivot: A High-Yield Direct Booking Strategy to Combat Supply Oversaturation”
Public Relations & Earned Media
- Bronze: Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts – Frontyard Holiday Festival, supported by AdventHealth
- Silver: Amelia Island CVB – New Day Cleveland + Midwest Influencers
- Silver: Discover The Palm Beaches – “Palm Royale-ty” Set-Jetting in The Palm Beaches
- Henry: Experience Kissimmee – Global Influencer FAM & Summit
Radio & Podcast Advertising
- Bronze: Cultural Council for Palm Beach County – The ArtiGras Podcast 2025
- Silver: Martin County Office of Tourism & Marketing – Radio Campaign
- Henry: Discover Mexico Beach – “No Scripts, Just Sun”
Sustainable Tourism Marketing
- Bronze: Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium – “Run For The Turtles”
- Silver: Visit Tampa Bay – “Meeting the Moment: Meetings That Leave a Legacy”
- Henry: Visit Florida Keys & Key West – Integrated Ecotourism Program
Travel Trade, Meetings & B2B Marketing
- Bronze: Florida’s First Coast of Golf – THE PLAYERS Travel Trade Promotion
- Silver: Amelia Island CVB – Amelia Island Meetings Videos
- Silver: Walton County Tourism – “Forever” Guide Redesign
- Henry: Ocala/Marion County Visitor and Convention Bureau – “Meet in the Middle”
Rural County Marketing
- Bronze: Franklin County Tourist Development Council – “Coastal Clues”
- Silver: Visit Gulf County – “A Vacation Worth Wagging About”
- Henry: Visit Sebring – “Come Full Circle”
Broadcast & Streaming Advertising
- Bronze: Visit Sarasota County – Origin Campaign
- Silver: Discover The Palm Beaches and partners – “Let’s Eat”
- Henry: Visit Lauderdale – “Never Lose Your Splash TV Advertising”
Tourism Advocacy
- Bronze: Visit Tampa Bay – “Hospitality Heroes”
- Silver: Discover The Palm Beaches – “Destination Stewardship”
- Henry: Visit St. Pete-Clearwater – “727 Day”
Mobile Marketing
- Bronze: Amelia Island CVB – “Inmar Rich Media Unit”
- Silver: Visit Florida Keys & Key West – “Key West Duo Scroller”
- Henry: Florida’s First Coast of Golf – Mobile “Moments” Campaign
Out-of-Home Advertising
- Bronze: Cultural Council for Palm Beach County – “Go Beyond Basel 2025”
- Silver: Visit Panama City Beach – “FUN in the SUN” safety campaign
- Henry: Discover Lake County – Miami Target Market Campaign
Special Event
- Bronze: Arching Oaks Arts and Culture Center – Japan Festival Eustis
- Silver: Visit Gainesville/Alachua County – “A World Championship in Florida with 98 Countries in Competition”
- Henry: Visit Tampa Bay – “Dylan Perry x Europe”
Print Advertising
- Bronze: Fort Myers – Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods – “Just Feels Right” Ads
- Bronze: Franklin County Tourist Development Council – “Embrace The Pace” Spring Campaign
- Silver: Martin County Office of Tourism & Marketing
- Henry: Amelia Island CVB – “Find Your Unwind” Leisure
Consumer-Facing Promotional Materials
- Bronze: Santa Rosa County Tourist Development Office – Discover Navarre Beach, Vol. 1
- Silver: Bradenton Area CVB – Wanderlust Bookazine
- Silver: Visit Orlando – Orlando’s Kitchens: Official Destination Cookbook
- Henry: Visit Gulf County – Gulf County Wildlife BINGO
Social Media Marketing
- Bronze: Visit Tampa Bay – “First to the Summit: Tampa Bay x Expedia”
- Silver: Visit St. Pete-Clearwater – 727 Society
- Henry: Visit Florida Keys & Key West – “Destination Instant Experiences”
Integrated Marketing Campaign
- Bronze: Amelia Island CVB – “Find Your Unwind”
- Silver: Destin-Fort Walton Beach – “Shifting Perceptions Through Shared Adventure”
- Henry: Greater Miami CVB and City of Miami Beach – “Miami Beach: Spring Break Reality Check”
Best in Show Winners
The Flagler Awards also recognize the top overall entries within four budget divisions.
The 2026 Best in Show winners were:
- Division I: Discover Mexico Beach – “No Scripts, Just Sun”
- Division II: Visit Gulf County – Gulf County Wildlife BINGO
- Division III: Martin County Office of Tourism & Marketing – Radio Campaign
- Division IV: Visit Tampa Bay – “Doggone Summer: Tampa Bay Unleashed”
The awards showcase the variety of ways Florida destinations and tourism organizations are marketing their communities, from traditional advertising and email campaigns to influencer programs, digital experiences, sustainability initiatives, and destination-focused events.
For more information, visit HERE.
