Signature Programs

Visit Jackson celebrates the best of the best in the Tourism Industry each year in the month of February. The awards program was created by Visit Jackson to recognize and show appreciation for the hard work of the industry’s top professionals who have helped contribute to the success of the tourism industry in Jackson. See the 2026 winners' announcement here.

Tourism Visionary Award – the highest industry achievement award, recognizes industry partners who navigate new standards of involvement and cooperation to develop Jackson’s tourism future.

Hometown Heroes – Travel and Tourism Industry Employees in an industry-related business, who greatly contributed to the travel and tourism industry by serving above and beyond their usual job duties.

S.U.M.I.T.T. (Superlative Merit in Travel and Tourism) Award – recognizes Jackson’s top tourism entities for their outstanding contributions to the advancement of travel and tourism in Jackson.

Visit Jackson's My City Young Ambassador Program empowers third-grade students at Clausell Elementary and Wilkins Elementary to explore their city's culture, history, and tourism industry through monthly sessions featuring guest speakers, field experiences, and enrichment activities that build civic pride alongside practical life skills, including mindfulness, confidence, and cultural awareness. Led by Kim Lewis, Visit Jackson's Destination Development Manager and 2025 CHANGE Collective Fellow, the program introduces students to Jackson's tourism ecosystem through hands-on encounters with local hospitality, arts, and cultural institutions, experiences that help students see themselves as active participants in Jackson's story. The program earned national recognition when student video testimonials were featured at the Destinations International THRIVE Conference, giving Jackson's youngest ambassadors a platform to share their perspectives on pride, place, and community with a national audience.