Signature Programs
Visit Jackson utilizes its services and staff to incorporate several signature programs to aid in strengthening the Jackson product, to recognize its accomplishments and provide resources to accomplish its goals.
Visit Jackson utilizes its services and staff to incorporate several signature programs to aid in strengthening the Jackson product, to recognize its accomplishments and provide resources to accomplish its goals.
HOMETOWN HERO AWARDS
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.
Watch the 2022 presentation.
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, which greatly contributed to the travel and tourism industry by serving above and beyond their usual job duties.
SUMITT (Superlative Merit in Travel and Tourism) Award – recognize Jackson’s top tourism entities for their outstanding contributions to the advancement of travel and tourism in Jackson.
MISS JACKSON HOSPITALITY
Miss Jackson Hospitality 2023 Jaidyn Elease-Diane Thomas
Jaidyn Elease-Diane Thomas is a junior at THEE Jackson State University, where she is obtaining a degree in Computer Science with plans for a masters in Environmental Science and a PhD in Data Analytics. Thomas is a member of the LSMAMP, NHS and TRIO programs. She has participated in research internationally in Belize and Costa Rica with offers next summer for Saudi Arabia. Thomas enjoys reading, expressing her creativeness, as well as exploring different cultures. She is described as caring, and a “mother like figure” and enjoys doing things for others. Thomas has an engineering background coming from Plano TX, but a native Mississippian.
2023 Miss Jackson Hospitality - First Runner Up
Jada January is a recent Alcorn State University Nursing School graduate attending the University of Mississippi RN-BSN online while working as a registered nurse at UMMC. She graduated from Clinton High School in 2018. She loves to read, shop, and be with family and friends. She serves as a volunteer at the Children's Museum, Two MS Museums, and Stewpot. She plans to join the Air National Guard and become a Family Nurse Practitioner in the future.
2023 Little Miss Jackson Hospitality Kennedi Gray
Kennedi Gray was born March 20, 2013 in Jackson, MS to Iesha Odoms & Victor Gray. Kennedi is a straight A 5th grader who loves to dance, sing, cheer & create Tik Toks. She is also apart of the Southern Athletics Cheer Team.