Topeka – The North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) recently announced that Kansas Tourism received four awards in its 32nd annual awards.n.d. Annual NATJA Awards Competition. This contest recognizes the best in travel journalism, photography and destination marketing organizations. This recognition affirms the Kansas Department of Tourism's commitment to innovative destination marketing and efforts to showcase Kansas as a premier travel destination.
“Kansas Tourism’s award-winning efforts to encourage travelers to explore our state are critical to Kansas’ image and growth.” said Lt. Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland.. “Every visitor represents a potential resident or business connection, and elevating Kansas as an attractive destination ensures lasting benefits for all communities.”
The four awards presented to the Kansas Department of Tourism are:
- Destination of the Year Award: This special recognition recognizes Kansas Tourism for its unwavering dedication to innovative tourism marketing strategies and attracting the attention of travelers around the world. The Kansas Department of Tourism was selected for the entire 2023 marketing campaign, with branded messaging used in all campaigns. To the starswhich also included a Kansas Day release.Home on the Range“Project and”To the story” video series.
- Creative Marketing Campaign Gold Award: “House on the Range” The campaign celebrates Kansas' uniqueness by featuring a series of videos set to the state's iconic songs and images of the state's diverse landscapes and vibrant culture. Featuring five prominent Kansas artists, the campaign launches on Kansas Day 2023 and shows how lyrics written more than 150 years ago still ring true today. You can see the full campaign here.
- destination video, Bronze Award: “Conquering Kansas: The Legacy of Gordon Parks” This video is published by the Kansas Department of Tourism.Go to story” series, we explore the faces and places that make Kansas a great place to visit and live. How Gordon Parks, who dedicated his life to fighting racism and poverty through art and the lessons he learned on his family's farm in Fort Scott, led him to become the first black photojournalist on Life magazine's staff and the first Find out what helped him become an African American director. major movies. Academy Award-winning screenwriter and fellow Kansas native Kevin Willmott tells the remarkable true story of how Parks opened doors for black filmmakers everywhere. You can watch the video here.
- travel guide, Honorable Mention Award: “Kansas Official Travel Guide 2023.” The annual Kansas Travel Guide introduces readers to a variety of activities in the Sunflower State, including attractions, museums, dining, lodging, historic sites, outdoor adventures, and more. Filled with captivating images and insightful stories, this guide invites travelers to discover the treasures of Kansas' vibrant cities, historic towns, rolling plains, and vast prairies. Masu. The cover of the 2023 guide features a wakeboarder slicing through the waves on Perry Lake, his depiction of one of the many unexpected activities found in Kansas. You can order the latest travel guides here.
“We are honored to be recognized for the work we do to encourage travel to Kansas.” Kansas Tourism Director Bridget Jobe said.. “Winning these prestigious tourism marketing awards reaffirms our commitment to creativity, innovation and excellence in promoting unforgettable experiences in our state.”
“Submissions to this year’s award competition included a diverse group of North American journalists, publications, and destination marketing organizations.” NATJA CEO Helen Hernandez said:. “This year, the selection of winners by an independent panel of judges was particularly challenging due to the high quality and wide range of articles, images and marketing campaigns submitted for consideration.” The jury included award-winning newspaper and magazine editors, as well as educators from a variety of journalism fields. To be eligible for awards and honors, the work had to be published between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2023.
