GoRockford Awards & Recognition

Honored for Excellence in Tourism, Events & Marketing

GoRockford has been recognized locally, nationally, and internationally for excellence in marketing, events, and destination development. These honors celebrate the creativity and innovation behind our work in promoting the Rockford region. Explore the timeline below to see the awards that highlight how GoRockford continues to set the standard in the tourism and events industry.

Awards & Honors

2025

Sports ETA – National Sports Tourism Organization of the Year (GoRockford)

2024

Illinois Governor’s Conference on Tourism – Best Event or Festival (“Stroll on State”)
Illinois Governor’s Conference on Tourism – Best Cooperative Partnership (“2023 Midwestern & Pacific Coast Synchronized Skating Sectional Championships”—RACVB, BMO Center, Skating Council of IL, City of Rockford)

2022

Rockford Area Arts Council – Placemaking (RACVB)

2021

Illinois Governor’s Conference on Tourism – Best Branding Initiative (2019 ITTF North American Olympic Table Tennis Trials)
Illinois Governor’s Conference on Tourism – Best Cooperative Partnership (Sports Illinois Sports Huddle; Chair: Lindsay Arellano)

2020

AAF Rockford – Gold: CRE8IV Video; Silver: 2019 Olympic Table Tennis Trials (Integrated Campaigns, Regional/National); Bronze: Jurassic Park RKFD Campaign (Integrated Campaigns, Local)
Sports Events & Tourism Association – National Event Marketing Campaign of the Year (<500K; 2019 ITTF North American Olympic Table Tennis Trials)
Sports Events & Tourism Association – National Locally Created Event of the Year (<500K; “Jurassic Park RKFD” + “Fred Comes Home”)

2019

NASC / Sports ETA – Destination Branding & Marketing Campaign of the Year (<500K)
Illinois Governor’s Conference on Tourism – Best Branding Initiative (BYG2RKFD); Best Cooperative Partnership (75th Anniversary of Rockford Peaches)
Rockford Register Star “What Rocks” – 1st: Best Christmas Attraction; 1st: Best Winter Attraction; 3rd: Event/Festival (Stroll on State)
HSMAI Adrian Awards – Gold (Travel Weekly “Rockford, I Apologize!”; Chicago Tribune “Rockford is making a comeback”)

2018

American Advertising Awards – Gold (BYG2RKFD Think Pad – print)
Illinois Governor’s Conference on Tourism – Social Media Award (Tour de Roo)
NASC / Sports ETA – Sports Tourism Organization of the Year (for 2017)

2017

Illinois Governor’s Conference on Tourism – Best Tourism Marketing (Cheap Trick HOF); Best Branding Initiative (BYG2RKFD)
Rockford Register Star “What Rocks” – 1st: Best Christmas Attraction; 1st: Best Winter Attraction (Stroll on State)
Rockford Chamber of Commerce – Confluence Honors Celebrating Partnership (Stroll on State)

2016

Illinois Governor’s Conference on Tourism – Best Social Media Marketing (Budget A); Best Visitors Publication (Budget A)
MarCom Awards – Gold (GoRockford.com)
NASC / Sports ETA – Member Award; Sports Tourism Organization of the Year (for 2015)
Rockford BMX – Appreciation of Support
Rockford Register Star “What Rocks” – 1st: Best Christmas Attraction; 1st: Best Winter Attraction (Stroll on State)

2015

SportsEvents Media Group – Readers’ Choice Award
Illinois Governor’s Conference on Tourism – Best Event or Festival; Best in Show (Stroll on State)
Destinations International – Destination & Travel Foundation Board (John Groh); “30 Under 30” (Liz Wood)
Sons of Norway Valhall Lodge – Tusen Takk Award (Silent Auction gift basket)

2014

Illinois Governor’s Conference on Tourism – Best Social Media Marketing (Stroll on State); Best Tourism Branding (“Misery Loves Company”)
Destinations International (DMAP) – RACVB Re-accredited
SportsEvents – Readers’ Choice Award
Illinois Association of Park Districts – Intergovernmental Cooperation (with Rockford Park District & Winnebago County Regional Tourism Facility Board)
USSSA – States & World Series Appreciation

2013

Illinois Governor’s Conference on Tourism – Best Event or Festival
NCTTA – Thank-You (College Table Tennis Championships)
Destinations International (DMAP) – Accreditation presented to RACVB
Travel Media Showcase – Host Award
Dancing with the Rockford Stars – Shining Star Award
Sister Cities International – Sister City Initiative
Harkins Community Memorial Foundation – Certificate of Appreciation (Outstanding Youth Awards; RACVB)

2012

Illinois Governor’s Conference on Tourism – Best of Show; Best Tourism Marketing Campaign (Division A); Best Website (Division A)
American Advertising Awards – Bronze (King Kat Tournament Ad); Gold (Hideaway in Rockford Campaign – Non-Traditional)
NASC / Sports ETA – CSEE (Lindsay Arellano)
Rockford Park District / IPRA / IAPD – Community Service Award (John Groh)
Ignite – Founding Partner Award (RACVB)

2011

SportsEvents Media Group – 2012 Readers’ Choice Award
SportsTravel – Best Amateur Single-Sport Event (ABA BMX Midwest Nationals; TEAMS ’11)
State H.O.G. Rally Committee – Certificate of Appreciation
ABA BMX Midwest Nationals – Appreciation
USSSA World Series – Recognition

2010

SportsEvents Magazine – Readers’ Choice Awards; Award of Excellence (Readers’ Choice)
Midwest Living – Best Midwest Food Town
Illinois Governor’s Conference on Tourism – Best Social Media Marketing
NASC / Sports ETA – CSEE (Phil Elsbree)

2009–2000s (selected)

Viscape – “15 Tourism Heavyweights on Twitter”
Illinois Governor’s Conference on Tourism – 1st Runner-Up, Best Tourism Marketing Campaign
Sports Events Magazine – Award of Excellence (“50+ Planners & Places to Watch”)
Destinations International (DMAP) – RACVB Accredited (2009–2013)
Rockford Chamber of Commerce – Leadership Rockford (Stacy Kiejko, 2007–2008)
American Advertising Awards – “Making News” Governor’s Award (Print)
ACOM – CSM of the Year (Theresa Sellers)
Videographer Awards – Award of Excellence (“Little City Big Life”)
USSSA World Series (18 & Over) – Appreciation
USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships – Outstanding Dedication & Support (2006)
Heart of Rockford – Commercial Renovation (Saavedra Gehlhausen Architects)
UMCVB (La Crosse, WI) – Bruce Riley McDaniel Award for Bureau Innovation (“Visitors Mean Jobs,” multimedia)
Greater Rockford Ad Club / American Advertising Awards – Best of Show (RACVB “Oz” Website; GrahamSpencer)
Illinois Governor’s Conference on Tourism – Best of Show (“The Greatest Industry on Earth”); Advertising/PR Campaign (Multi-Media)
Illinois Governor’s Conference on Tourism – “Breaking New Ground” (Advertising/PR Campaigns, Multi-Media)
Illinois Governor’s Conference on Tourism – Advertising/PR Campaign; Best Citywide Campaign (“We Make Smiles!”)

1990s (selected)

River District – Heart of Rockford Award
Illinois Bureau of Tourism – Heritage Tourism Institute ’97 (Wendy Fisher)
Northern Illinois Advertising Council (RADDIES) – Awards of Excellence (Northwest Passage Ad; RACVB Identity/Literature)
Downtown, Inc. & River East Assoc. – Heart of Rockford Award
City of Rockford – Proclamation (Tourism Week)
Print’s Regional Design Annual – Design Excellence/Recognition (Hotel Guide; “Timepiece” poster)

1980s (selected)

Northern Illinois Advertising Council – Award of Excellence (Take a Hike brochure); Awards of Merit (Revolutionary War ad; Rockford Corporate Identity)
International Assoc. of Convention & Visitors Bureaus – Coursework Completions (Bureau Operations; Convention Marketing)
City of Rockford – Support of Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition
Print’s Regional Design Annual – Recognition (Northwest Passage logo)

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