Tourism Champions

Visit Springfield is teaming up with St. George’s Donuts to recognize the local businesses and organizations that help make the Springfield area a welcoming place to live, work and visit. 

When visitors leave Springfield with a positive impression, it's often because of the people they meet along the way. From restaurant servers and hotel staff to attraction employees, retail associates, volunteers and community organizations, countless individuals help create the welcoming experiences that inspire visitors to return.

The Tourism Champions program celebrates those people and businesses who go above and beyond to showcase the hospitality, pride and authenticity that make Springfield special.

Whether it's exceptional customer service, community involvement, a memorable visitor experience or a commitment to making Springfield a better place, Tourism Champions help turn ordinary visits into lasting memories.

Springfield's tourism industry supports local businesses, jobs and economic vitality throughout our community. By recognizing those who contribute to a positive visitor experience, we're celebrating the people who help our city thrive.

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Who can be Nominated?

Tourism Champions come from every corner of our community. Nominees may include:

• Restaurants, coffee shops and breweries
• Hotels and lodging properties
• Attractions and entertainment venues
• Retail businesses
• Event organizers and volunteers
• Frontline customer service professionals
• Community organizations and nonprofits
• Tourism and hospitality employees
• Local businesses that consistently create welcoming experiences

If someone helps visitors feel at home in Springfield, they're eligible for recognition.

What are the Tourism Champion Awards?

Business Award - The Tourism Champion Business of the Month Award recognizes a local business that goes above and beyond to support and strengthen Springfield’s visitor economy. Through their efforts to create exceptional experiences for visitors, these businesses help make Springfield a welcoming place to visit, explore, and enjoy.

Champion Award - The Tourism Champion Individual of the Month Award recognizes a person whose dedication, service, and advocacy positively impact tourism in Springfield. Whether through outstanding hospitality, community leadership, event support, visitor assistance, or destination promotion.

How Winners Will Be Recognized

Selected businesses will receive a surprise donut delivery from Visit Springfield team members. Each celebration may be featured through short-form video, social media content on Visit Springfield’s Love Springfield channels, springfieldmo.org and stakeholder communications.

Celebrating Springfield’s Visitor Economy

Visitors who enjoy their experience in Springfield are more likely to return, recommend Springfield to friends and family, attend future events and support local businesses. Every positive interaction contributes to our community's reputation as a welcoming destination in the heart of the Ozarks. Visit Springfield exists to strengthen the local economy by encouraging people to visit, explore and enjoy the city, and hospitality plays a vital role in that mission.

This program highlights the important connection between tourism and the local businesses, organizations and employees who create memorable experiences for visitors every day. Springfield impacts:

About St. George's Donuts

St. George’s Donuts is a locally owned bakery in the Springfield, Missouri area offering donuts, pastries and locally roasted coffee. Their donuts, pastries, icing and glaze are handmade from scratch with no preservatives, using quality ingredients and classic pastry techniques. Known as one of the best places in southwest Missouri to enjoy an old-fashioned cake donut, St. George’s Donuts is proud to partner with Visit Springfield to celebrate the people and businesses that make the Springfield area special.