We already know that sports tourism is a $45.1 billion industry. We also know that everyone reading this has played a role in building that number.
Our question to you is this: Don’t you want some recognition for it?
Now is your chance to enjoy some well-deserved time in the spotlight. SDM has opened nominations for its 2023 awards program, Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism and we are looking forward to your entries. This is the original and best economic impact award in the industry, and it carries a lot of weight.
At the heart of it all, we want to read about your stories – and we want others to read about them too. Maybe you have an event (or even several events) that brought substantial economic impact to the host community, driving business for hotels, stores, restaurants and other entities. Maybe there was an event that took some creativity to put on, presenting logistical or planning challenges. Maybe the event was not enormous but represented a nice boost for the locality that hosted it.
The point is this: While a competitive event may end with a trophy presentation or a medal ceremony, the real winners are the ones who benefit from the economic impact, but the champions are the ones who make it happen: the event owners or rights holders, and the destinations that work with them to bring those events to fruition.
Each event has a story, and we’d like to help you tell yours. Our application process could not be easier. All you have to do is visit this link. The form is straightforward and self-explanatory. (And if you run into any questions, please feel free to e-mail me at msprecher@duenorthmedia.com so that I can help.)
There is no charge to enter the program, and we welcome all our readers to do so. We welcome everything from traditional sports to niche sports to emerging sports to sports that might be brand-new to readers. You do not need to be a subscriber, an advertiser or a bigwig of any kind. You just need to have an event to enter.
SDM recognizes Champions of Economic Impact in multiple market size categories, and it also has a category called Innovations in Sports Tourism, recognizing unique events and their contributions to the industry. There is a place for your nomination, no matter what type or what size.
Nominations are now open at this link and will remain open until the deadline, September 8, 2023.
And now, it’s up to you. Visit the link and tell us your stories. The spotlight is waiting.
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