Visit Oxford Won Tourism Marketing Award

The Southeast Tourism Society recognized the organization for its A Place for Your Story campaign.

Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Marketing

Historic brick courthouse balcony and green town square in Oxford, Mississippi, under soft morning light. — Visit Oxford received the 2026 Shining Example Award from the Southeast Tourism Society for its successful 'A Place for Your Story' marketing campaign. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you believe local tourism marketing campaigns are worth the investment for your community?

Visit Oxford received the 2026 Shining Example Award for Best Marketing Campaign from the Southeast Tourism Society. The organization was honored for a campaign that successfully leveraged identity-driven storytelling.

Why it matters

The award recognizes marketing strategies that drive measurable growth in local visitor metrics through targeted engagement. The campaign successfully utilized omnichannel placements to attract specific audiences like University of Mississippi alumni and couples.

The campaign drove a 5% increase in total trips to the city and boosted the average length of stay by 45.7%. It was one of eight categories presented by the Southeast Tourism Society.

The players

Visit Oxford

This is the official destination marketing organization for Oxford, Mississippi, dedicated to promoting tourism.

Southeast Tourism Society

This professional organization supports the tourism industry across the southern United States through conferences and industry awards.

The details

The campaign, titled A Place for Your Story, utilized identity-driven storytelling across multiple channels to reach drive-market visitors. Messaging focused on key personas, effectively engaging couples and University of Mississippi alumni to visit the area.

The 2026 Shining Example Award was presented on September 22, 2026.

Market Landscape

The award highlights the intensifying competition among regional tourism boards to capture drive-market visitors from hubs like Atlanta and New Orleans. By focusing on specific audience personas, Visit Oxford has carved out a distinct position against neighboring cultural destinations.

The increase in tourism traffic suggests a more robust local economy and busier storefronts for local businesses. Residents may notice higher visitor volume during peak travel seasons as the campaign continues to influence travel decisions.

The takeaway

Targeted marketing campaigns that rely on specific audience personas often see higher engagement than broad-reach advertisements. Implementing storytelling elements can turn generic travel destinations into more relatable, personalized experiences for potential visitors.