Rhonda Salisbury Awarded Brad Burlingame Honor
The California Travel Association recognized the long-time tourism leader for her advocacy work in the state.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Travel — General
The California Travel Association has awarded the 2026 Brad Burlingame Award to Rhonda Salisbury. The honor recognizes her effectiveness and dedication to strengthening the tourism industry throughout California.
Why it matters
The award highlights individuals who represent the interests of tourism and effectively educate the public on the economic and social role of the travel sector. Salisbury was selected for her career-long commitment to regional advocacy.
Rhonda Salisbury has served as the CEO of Visit Yosemite | Madera County since 2010. Her professional career in tourism marketing and hotel management began in 1985.
The players
Rhonda Salisbury
She is the CEO of Visit Yosemite | Madera County and a board member of the California Travel Association.
California Travel Association
This organization acts as the primary advocacy body for the tourism industry throughout the state of California.
Visit Yosemite | Madera County
This organization promotes tourism and visitor services for the Yosemite region and surrounding Madera County.
The details
Rhonda Salisbury currently serves on the executive board of the California Travel Association, the organization responsible for presenting the award. Additional 2026 honorees recognized by the association include Visit Sacramento and Visit Santa Cruz County.
Timeline
Rhonda Salisbury began her career in tourism and hotel management in 1985.
Salisbury assumed the role of CEO for Visit Yosemite | Madera County in 2010.
The California Travel Association presented the Brad Burlingame Award in 2026.
Roadmap
The Brad Burlingame Award tracks the history of tourism advocacy in California, similar to how other industry awards track professional standards in different economic sectors. This year's selection of Rhonda Salisbury follows the established pattern of recognizing leaders who demonstrate long-term advocacy.
Travelers planning visits to the Yosemite area can expect continued focus on regional tourism infrastructure under Salisbury's ongoing leadership. This recognition highlights the organizations currently driving tourism marketing strategies within the state.
The takeaway
Recognizing long-term leaders in tourism advocacy underscores the state's reliance on professional marketing to sustain regional visitor numbers. Professionals in the industry can follow these career paths to influence broader state-level tourism policy.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments across the region in Travel — General.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sierra News Online.
