Several Advance Travel & Tourism clients earned recognition at the Mississippi Tourism Association’s 2026 Tourism Awards Program, with honors spanning destination leadership, research, partnership and industry service.

Presented during the Governor’s Conference on Tourism, held October 6–8 in Oxford, the awards recognize the organizations and individuals helping strengthen Mississippi’s visitor economy. This year’s honorees included:

Visit Jackson

DMO of the Year | $3 million and over

Visit Jackson earned recognition for work that connects destination marketing with the community’s long-term growth. During the 2025–2026 program year, the organization secured legislative approval for sustainable tourism funding while advancing convention and sports sales, visitor services, workforce development and community partnerships. Its efforts continue to build Jackson’s national visibility and strengthen its identity as the City With Soul.

Visit Starkville

DMO of the Year | $500,000–$999,999

Visit Starkville was recognized for expanding the destination’s appeal and building year-round visitation through sports, cultural experiences, meetings and signature events. The organization’s work helped generate record tourism tax collections and broaden Starkville’s identity beyond its university roots, supported by destination development and community partnerships.

Visit Cleveland

DMO of the Year | Budgets under $500,000

Visit Cleveland earned its award through strategic use of resources, storytelling and regional collaboration. The team expanded visitor guides, itineraries, digital content and advertising while supporting experiences such as POUR Mississippi, the upcoming Baby Doll Film Festival and 50 Nights of Lights. Together, these efforts give travelers more reasons to explore Cleveland and the Mississippi Delta throughout the year.

Coastal Mississippi and Condé Nast

Tourism Partnership of the Year

Coastal Mississippi brought the Gulf Coast to Condé Nast’s New York headquarters through an immersive activation showcasing the destination’s food, art, culture and nightlife. Twelve tourism partners traveled to New York to share their experiences and expertise directly with staff across publications including Vogue, Glamour, Bon Appétit and Condé Nast Traveler. The partnership gave local businesses a platform to tell their own stories while introducing the destination to influential media audiences.

Natchez Trace Compact

Thomas Van Hyning Research-in-Action Award

The Natchez Trace Compact was recognized for turning visitor research into practical decisions about branding, storytelling and trip planning. Its research identified gaps in how travelers understood and explored the Parkway, including a tendency to see it as a road rather than a destination. Those findings informed a new brand platform, messaging, website redevelopment and long-term planning, creating a clear direction for visitor engagement across the corridor.

Jonathan Pettus, Visit Jackson

Terry M. Watkins Member of the Year

Jonathan Pettus, vice president and chief marketing officer at Visit Jackson, received individual recognition for his service to the Mississippi Tourism Association. A member of MTA’s board of directors and co-chair of its Advocacy Committee, Pettus was honored for contributing his time, expertise and leadership to the association and the broader tourism industry.

Congratulations to these clients and colleagues on their recognition. From creating new reasons to visit to securing the resources that support tourism’s future, their work is making a lasting contribution to Mississippi’s destinations and communities.