Visit California celebrates tourism innovators at 2024 Poppy Awards

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Yesterday evening, Visit California celebrated outstanding tourism marketing and destination stewardship achievements across California at the biennial Poppy Awards. A total of over 160 submissions were meticulously evaluated across nine categories, spotlighting two years’ worth of ingenuity and dedication.

The past two years have seen tremendous growth, resilience and innovation from California’s travel industry,” said Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of Visit California. “This year’s Poppy Award-winning campaigns inspired visitors from around the world to rediscover California, highlighting our state’s welcoming spirit and abundance of world-class experiences.”

Beteta, accompanied by Visit California’s board officers, unveiled the 2024 Poppy Awards during the 16th annual Visit California Outlook Forum, hosted on March 11-12 at the Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa. With a remarkable surge in attendance, this year’s Outlook Forum conference drew over 800 participants, underscoring the event’s significance within the tourism industry.

The culminating highlight of the evening was Beteta’s presentation of the prestigious California Dreamer Award during the ceremony. This esteemed accolade honors individuals emblematic of California’s trailblazing ethos. Chairman Reid D. Milanovich, representing the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, graciously accepted the award, marking a fitting conclusion to the evening’s festivities.

“The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians have been the stewards of this beautiful place since time immemorial,” Beteta said. “Recent developments to the community, including the Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza and Museum and Spa at Séc-he, have redefined the visitor experience for travelers to this region, sharing the incredible history and modern-day culture of the tribe. It truly is the crown jewel of California’s native experiences.”

“To be here accepting an award for our tribe, for sharing our culture, is something I would have never imagined. It’s such an honor,” said Chairman Milanovich. “We’re looking forward to bringing more and more people here to the Coachella Valley, specifically to the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation.”

Hosting the evening’s festivities was none other than Olympic Gold Medal Skier Jonny Moseley. In alignment with Visit California’s recently unveiled global brand platform, “The Ultimate Playground,” this year’s Outlook Forum integrated playful activities into industry networking sessions. Leveraging his expertise as a commentator, Moseley animatedly narrated the highlights of various activities, including putt-putt, pickleball, and a guided plein air painting workshop.

A distinguished panel of industry marketing experts undertook the responsibility of selecting the winners across nine categories for the coveted Poppy Awards, encompassing both business and destination achievements.

The triumphant recipients included:

• Best Content Marketing:
• Business: Belmont Park
• Destination (tie): San Francisco Travel, Visit Greater Palm Springs
• Best Strategic Partnership:
• Business: San Francisco Giants
• Destination: Visit Ventura
• Best Public Relations Campaign:
• Business: LEGOLAND California Resort
• Destination: Visit Newport Beach
• Best Influencer Campaign:
• Business: Mendocino Railway | Skunk Train
• Destination: Visit Long Beach
• Best Crisis Recovery: See Monterey
• All Dreams Welcome: Visit Sacramento
• Best Group Meetings Marketing: See Monterey
• Destination Stewardship & Sustainable Travel Award:
• Business: Rush Creek Lodge & Spa at Yosemite
• Destination: Visit Mono County
• Best Paid Brand Campaign, Under $1 Million:
• Business: Palisades Tahoe
• Destination: Visit Lake Tahoe
• Best Paid Brand Campaign, $1 Million & Up:
• Business: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (Zoo)
• Destination: San Diego Tourism Authority

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