Visit Bartlesville, the tourism arm of the City of Bartlesville, was named winner of the prestigious “Organization of the Year (Small Budget)” RedBud Award during a ceremony held earlier this month.
Oklahoma Travel Industry Association held its annual RedBud Awards at the Oklahoma History Center on June 13. Open to all Oklahoma tourism entities, the awards represent the highest honor given in the Oklahoma tourism industry. Recognizing the state’s top tourism attractions, events, programs and organizations for outstanding efforts to serve and promote Oklahoma’s tourism industry, 33 awards were given in 17 categories.
“Congratulations to Visit Bartlesville Executive Director Maria Gus and her team for the work they’ve done to earn this very prestigious and important award,” said City Manager Mike Bailey. “Their hard work, vision and dedication to making Bartlesville a top-tier tourism destination in Oklahoma and beyond is evident not only by this award, but also by the direct impact their efforts have on our sales and lodging tax revenues. Bartlesville is fortunate to have such an outstanding organization at its tourism helm.”
In Fiscal Year 2021, Visit Bartlesville’s economic impact on the community was an estimated $32 million, with total visitor spending around $14 million — funds that generated $135,000 in lodging tax revenue and approximately $554,000 is sales tax revenue, bringing the fiscal impact of the organization to $690,080.
Statewide, in 2021 alone, the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department reported $10.1 billion in revenue generated by the industry.
“Oklahoma’s tourism industry is a pillar of our state’s economy, ranking as the third-largest sector,” said OTIA President Debra Bailey. “Our state boasts remarkable attractions, captivating events, and remarkable cultural experiences, making it an enticing destination for travelers.”
Visit Bartlesville, Bartlesville Development Authority and Bartlesville Redevelopment Authority are governed by a board of directors but receive funding through City-generated tax revenues. Funding for the organizations is approved by the Bartlesville City Council.
For a complete list of winners, see OTIA awards.