Visit College Station Wins Two Statewide Tourism Awards From Destinations Texas

"Learn Why You'll Love It Here" campaign and record-setting spring sports lineup earn top honors for leisure and sports tourism promotion.

COLLEGE STATION, TX, UNITED STATES, September 10, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Visit College Station was honored with two Destination Excellence Awards at the 2026 Destinations Texas Annual Conference held Sept 2-4, recognizing the organization's leisure marketing campaign and its promotion of major sporting events hosted in the destination this year.

"The Destination Excellence Awards recognize remarkable achievement in destination management and marketing across Texas," said Kathleen Davis, president and CEO of Destinations Texas. "Behind every one of these winning entries is a community that got busier, a hotel that stayed full, and a local business that made payroll. That is the real measure of this work."

In the DMO category with a budget of over $3 million, Visit College Station received the Best Leisure Tourism Campaign award for "Learn Why You'll Love It Here," the destination's brand platform built on a college-course creative device unique to Aggieland. The win reflects the marketing team's work creating and expanding the platform across leisure, sales, and sports audiences, building destination brand awareness beyond College Station's university association. The campaign drove measurable gains in awareness and engagement across web, social, paid media, and public relations.

The organization also won Best Sports Tourism Promotion for its work bringing three marquee sporting events to College Station within five weeks in spring and early summer 2026: the Savannah Bananas at Kyle Field, the Argentina vs. Honduras "Road to 26" match leading up to the World Cup, and the USATF Lone Star Grand Prix at E.B. Cushing Stadium. The events drew more than 190,000 combined attendees, generated an estimated $33.5 million in direct economic impact, and produced nearly 2,900 news articles worldwide with an estimated $146.56 million in advertising value equivalency.

The sports tourism win reflects a joint effort between Visit College Station's sales and marketing teams, working alongside Texas A&M University and event organizers to plan, fund, and promote the events.

"I’m super proud. These awards belong to our entire team, who put in the work day in and day out to build College Station into a destination that competes and wins on a national stage," said Jeremiah Cook, Assistant Director of Tourism for Visit College Station. "None of it happens without our partners at Texas A&M and across the community, collaborating and working together toward a singular goal. This is a win for the whole city."

Destinations Texas, formerly the Texas Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus, recognizes excellence in tourism marketing and promotion among Texas destination organizations each year at its annual conference.

These awards are a reminder of why tourism matters to College Station: every visitor drawn here brings new dollars into local hotels, restaurants, and shops, supporting jobs and easing the tax burden on residents.

###

ABOUT VISIT COLLEGE STATION   
Visit College Station is the official destination marketing organization for the City of College Station, home to Texas A&M University, the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, and the legendary Texas hospitality that defines Aggieland. Located at the center of the Texas Triangle, College Station is within a three-hour drive of Houston, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, and San Antonio, making it one of the most accessible weekend destinations in the state. From game days at Kyle Field to military heritage, Brazos Valley trails to historic Northgate nights, visitors are invited to learn why you'll love it here. Plan your trip at  VisitCollegeStation.com

Julie Takahashi
Public Content
+1 832-816-8456
email us here
Visit us on social media:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Facebook