During the Midwest Travel Network conference, members voted for a variety of prestigious annual awards. For the first time, Shipshewana was named Destination of the Year.
For 2024 the winners are:
Destination of the year: visit Shipshewana
FAM trip of the year: visit Fairfield
Rising Star of the Year: Erin Huiatt of Des Moines Parent
Destination Partner of the Year: Visit Fort Dodge
Collaboration of the Year: Brandy Gleason of Gleason Family Adventures
Best Social Media Campaign (Destination): Clear Lake, Iowa
Best Social Media Campaign (Blogger): Melody Pittman of Wherever I May Roam Blog
Blogger of the Year: Nicole Marie Kringstad of The Midwest Millennial
The Destination of the Year is chosen based on the destination that everyone seems to be talking about within MTN, and this past year Shipshewana topped that list.
Because the goal of Visit Shipshewana, or the Shipshewana/LaGrange County Convention & Visitor’s Bureau (CVB), is to promote the area as a travel destination, the award is an incredible step forward and a wonderful testament to all the CVB’s hard work director. , staff and partners, the organization said in a press release.
“Visit Shipshewana welcomed members of our network throughout the year and quickly appeared on the radar of hundreds of people across MTN,” said Sara Broers, co-owner of the Midwest Travel Network. “The willingness and extra effort Sonya Nash and her team have put in to make all these visits possible speaks volumes about Visit Shipshewana’s commitment to tourism. That’s why they earned the 2024 Destination of The Year Award for the Midwest Travel Network.”
The success of the MTN and CVB annual conference is also due to the Blue Gate Garden Inn, the Farmstead Inn & Conference Center, the Blue Gate Performing Arts Center, the Shipshewana Flea Market, everyone at Davis Mercantile, Cook’s Bison Ranch, the small business owners, the tour guides, the restauranteurs, the Amish homemakers and artisans, and many more, the release said. It is also important to mention the small but dedicated staff at Visit Shipshewana/LaGrange County CVB who worked countless hours for almost a year to ensure the MTN Annual Conference was a success.
“To be selected as the 2024 Destination of the Year is truly an honor and a true affirmation that Shipshewana and LaGrange County are special places to live AND visit,” said CVB Executive Director Sonya Nash. “This could not have been achieved without the availability of great local venues and experiences, as well as the input and collaboration of our partners.
“It proves that with teamwork and Hoosier Hospitality, there is nothing that cannot be accomplished. Shipshewana may be a small town, but it can do big things, and do them well.”
