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Visit NC recognizes leaders in the state’s tourism industry each year through three established awards: Winners Circle, Esse Quam Videri, and North Carolina Champion. In 2025, Visit NC presented a special "Spirit of NC" award to those who greatly contributed to recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene. Read more on our media site.

 

Winners Circle

The Winners Circle Award originated in 2004 to recognize communities, organizations, events and people in the tourism industry that have made significant and continuing contributions to the growth and success of North Carolina’s tourism industry. The award is given annually and is presented at the Visit NC Tourism Conference, the largest gathering of the state’s tourism industry leaders.

2024 Winners

  • Mike Butts — Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority
  • Allan Harper — Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
  • Sam Jones — Skylight Inn, Sam Jones BBQ

 

Esse Quam Videri

The Esse Quam Videri Award, which echoes the state motto, celebrates a recipient’s gift of time, energy and resources to elevate a destination to new heights. Honorees embody what it means “to be, rather than to seem.”

2025 Winners

  • James & Amanda Keith — NuWray Hotel, Burnsville

 

North Carolina Champion

Given in honor of outstanding service to North Carolina’s Tourism industry, the North Carolina Champion Award is dedicated to tourism leaders whose visionary spirit is an inspiration to those around them and have performed outstanding service to the industry for an extended period. These are people whose commitment has led organizations to new heights of success through sustained excellent performance that results in a high impact for the tourism industry.

Recent Winners

  • Richard Geiger — Winston-Salem CVB
  • Tom Murray — Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority