Here Are The Finalists For 2025 Arkansas Tourism Henry Awards

🏆Arkansas Tourism Awards in Bentonville

🏆Arkansas Tourist Attraction of the Year Nominees

🏆Ceremony February 25

Have you been thinking about exploring Arkansas? You’ll never run out of amazing places to visit and exciting things to do.  Soon, Arkansas Tourism will reveal the best attraction of 2025, along with the communities and businesses that went above and beyond to promote tourism this year.

The Henry Awards honor the biggest names in Arkansas tourism and they will be announcing the winners on Tuesday, February 25, during the 51st annual Arkansas Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Bentonville. These awards celebrate the people, places, and organizations that are making an impact on tourism in The Natural State.

The awards are named after Henri de Tonti, a 17th-century explorer and one of the first Arkansas Travelers, the Henry Awards recognize those who help shape the state’s tourism industry.

Nominees for the 2025 Arkansas Tourism Henry Awards

The Tourism Attraction of the Year - This award spotlights standout attractions that bring in visitors, have wonderful customer service, and put their communities on the map.

• Peel Compton Foundation – Coler Mountain Bike Preserve (Bentonville)

• World Famous Armadillo Festival (Hamburg)

• Oaklawn (Hot Springs)

Individual Innovation in Tourism - is awarded to the individual who has created or spearheaded an innovative project that breaks the traditional tourism mold and/or highlights effective public/private partnerships.

• Bobby Finster, Rural Innovation Group (Batesville)

• Brandon Kelley, Discover Bella Vista (Bella Vista)

• Jeff Rose, Buffalo Outdoor Center (Buffalo River Region)

The Natural State Tourism Development Award this award is presented to a community, organization, special event or attraction for an innovative project that “stands out from the crowd” and increases community pride.

• Moon Over Main (Russellville)

• Thrive, Inc. – Helena Adventure Company (Helena)

• Experience Fayetteville – Fayetteville Bikepacking Route Network (Fayetteville)

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The Tourism Organization of the Year is presented to a convention and visitors bureau, advertising and promotion commission or chamber of commerce for their performance of promoting tourism over the previous year.

• Visit Hot Springs (Hot Springs)

• Eureka Springs City Advertising & Promotion Commission (Eureka Springs)

• Visit Bentonville (Bentonville)

There will also be the Tourism Person of the Year that will be announced at the ceremony. This will go to the person who is actively involved in tourism and has made helped the betterment of the tourism industry.

Inductees Joe DeVito and Alice Walton will be inducted into The 2025 Tourism Hall of Fame during the ceremony.