TheBirthplace of Country Music earned top honors at the annual Southwest Virginia Tourism Awards, taking home six awards recognizing excellence in tourism leadership and marketing. The awards, presented byFriends of Southwest Virginia, were announced at a luncheon held Tuesday at the Wytheville Meeting Center in Wytheville, Virginia.
The organization’s flagship event, theBristol Rhythm & Roots Reunionmusic festival, received the Outstanding Festival of the Year award, a top honor in the Excellence in Tourism Partners category for events with more than 10,000 attendees. Additionally, longtime BCM volunteer Lawrence Inscho was recognized with the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year award in the Excellence in Tourism Leadership category, celebrating his years of dedication and service to the organization.
"Honoring the vision and dedication of our tourism partners in Southwest Virginia, like the Birthplace of Country Music, is essential to the continued growth of our region," said Kim Davis, executive director of Friends of Southwest Virginia. "Tourism is a driving force in Southwest Virginia's economy, and we're proud to recognize organizations that preserve our culture, tell our storiesand inspire visitors to travel to our region."
BCM was also honored with four Awards of Excellence in Tourism Marketing, showcasing the organization’s innovative and impactful promotional efforts for Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion including Best Video Series for its Paste Magazine Sessions at the festival and Best Video Series for an Event for the festival's recap videos, produced byLoch & Key Productionsof Knoxville, Tennessee. The festival also received honors for Best Social Media Campaign and Best PR Campaign.
“We are incredibly honored to be recognized among so many outstanding tourism partners in Southwest Virginia,” said BCM Executive Director Melissa Roberts.“These awards reflect the hard work of our staff, volunteersand community who make Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion a world-class event each year. We’re especially proud of Lawrence Inscho’s well-deserved recognition—his dedication is a true embodiment of our mission.”
The Southwest Virginia Tourism Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in tourism across the region. The awards highlight the vital contributions of organizations, businessesand individuals who are elevating the visitor experience and supporting economic development through tourism.
BCM's award-winning Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion is slated for Sept. 19-21 on State Street in historic downtown Bristol, Virginia-Tennessee, bringing world-class live music to the twin cities made famous by the 1927 Bristol Sessions recordings. Check out the lineup and purchase tickets atBristolRhythm.com. To plan your visit to the Birthplace of Country Music atBirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org.
