TAMPA, Fla.—Visit Tampa Bay took home seven Flagler Awards at the 2026 Florida Governor’s Conference on Tourism, including Best of Show honors for its “Doggone Summer: Tampa Bay Unleashed” campaign.
The awards were presented Sept. 9 in West Palm Beach, Fla. Visit Tampa Bay received more Flagler Awards than any other Florida destination marketing organization during the annual statewide tourism marketing competition.
“Doggone Summer: Tampa Bay Unleashed” received the Henry Award in Specialty Marketing and was also named Best of Show.
Developed with FKQ Advertising + Marketing, the campaign promotes Tampa Bay as a destination for dog-friendly travel, encouraging families to bring their pets while enjoying pet-friendly accommodations, attractions, and outdoor experiences throughout Hillsborough County. The initiative has expanded to include a “dog-fluencer” strategy designed to reach pet owners through authentic storytelling and full-funnel engagement, positioning Tampa Bay as a destination where travelers and their pets are welcome.
Visit Tampa Bay also earned a Henry Award in Special Event for “Dylan Perry x Europe: Two Cities, One Creative Spirit.” The initiative brought Tampa artist Dylan Perry to Amsterdam’s STRAAT Museum and Hamburg’s Millerntor Gallery in July 2025 for major mural installations exploring connections among culture, sport, social commitment, and travel. The European program helped expand Visit Tampa Bay’s presence in key international travel markets while using the region’s shared interest in street art to support outreach to tour operators, airline executives, and trade and consumer media.
Additional Visit Tampa Bay awards included a Silver Award in Sustainable Tourism Marketing for “Meeting the Moment: Meetings That Leave a Legacy”; a Bronze Award in Social Media Marketing for “First to the Summit: Tampa Bay x Expedia”; a Bronze Award in Digital Advertising for “Corporate Transient: From Clicks to Corporate Stays”; and a Bronze Award in Tourism Advocacy for “Hospitality Heroes: Championing Tampa Bay’s Tourism Workforce.”
“This kind of recognition from our peers across the state means a great deal, but what it really reflects is the caliber of work our team puts into telling Tampa Bay’s story,” says Santiago C. Corrada, president and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay. “Whether it’s welcoming families and their pets to our destination or bringing Tampa Bay’s creative spirit to international audiences, every one of these honored efforts was built to drive real, measurable impact for our community and our partners, as well as to inspire the world to love Tampa Bay. That’s always been, and will always be, the goal.”
Now in its 26th year, the Flagler Awards recognize innovative and creative tourism marketing efforts throughout Florida. The competition, created by Visit Florida, drew nearly 300 entries in 2026. Awards are presented at the Bronze, Silver, and Henry Award levels, along with four Best of Show categories based on budget tiers.
