October 14, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Danielle Morgan
Mississippi Tourism Association
(601) 720-2245
dmorgan@mstourism.com
Oxford, Miss. (Oct. 8, 2026) – The Mississippi Tourism Association (MTA) has named Visit Starkville the Destination Management Organization (DMO) of the Year for organizations with budgets of $500,000 to $999,999 at its annual Tourism Awards Program, held during the Governor’s Conference on Tourism at the Oxford Conference Center, Oct. 6-8. The annual educational and professional development event brought together approximately 250 tourism industry professionals from across Mississippi, along with partners from the surrounding region.
The DMO of the Year Award is presented to a destination with a budget of $500,000 to $999,999 which is recognized for outstanding efforts in destination marketing and management through strategies and initiatives that generate visitation and contribute to the overall success of their destination.
“This honor belongs to everyone who makes Starkville such an amazing destination,” said Paige Hunt, director of tourism for Visit Starkville. “Direct visitor spending in Oktibbeha County climbed to $213.1 million in 2025, up nearly 8 percent from 2024. That kind of growth doesn’t happen alone. It takes incredible partners, a community that welcomes visitors with open arms and a supportive board that believes in what tourism can do for Starkville. We’re grateful to the Mississippi Tourism Association for this honor and excited to keep building on this momentum.”
Visit Starkville was cited for helping to redefine what success looks like for a Mississippi destination. Through strategic destination development, sports tourism growth, nationally recognized events and industry leadership, the organization has expanded Starkville’s identity beyond its university roots while strengthening its year-round visitor economy. Starkville earned national recognition as USA TODAY’s No. 1 Best Small Town in the South for the third consecutive year, generated record tourism tax collections and continued attracting visitors through a diverse mix of sports, culture, meetings and signature experiences. Beyond its local impact, Visit Starkville plays an active leadership role in advancing Mississippi tourism through statewide collaboration, advocacy and professional service. Its success demonstrates how strategic investment, community partnerships and destination vision can create lasting economic impact and elevate Mississippi’s reputation as a travel destination.
“Strong destination organizations understand that success is not simply about attracting more visitors, but about continually developing new reasons for them to come, stay and return. Visit Starkville has taken a thoughtful, strategic approach to growing its visitor economy by building on the strengths of the community while expanding the experiences that define the destination. Through sports, events, partnerships and destination development, they are creating year-round opportunities for visitation and demonstrating how a clear vision for tourism can generate meaningful economic impact while strengthening the community as a whole,” said MTA Executive Director Danielle Morgan.
The awards program gives MTA the opportunity to recognize members who excel in various sectors of the industry. Awards were presented in 24 categories, each highlighting a different aspect of the hospitality industry or individual achievement.
###
About the Mississippi Tourism Association
The Mississippi Tourism Association unites and advances Mississippi’s travel industry by serving as its leading voice and convener, driving sustainable growth through advocacy, workforce development, industry education and collaboration across all sectors. For nearly 40 years, MTA has led the state’s tourism industry through education, advocacy and professional development. More information is available at www.mstourism.com.
