Kingsport, Tenn. – Visit Kingsport received top honors in three award categories at the 28th Annual Pinnacle Awards. The Northeast Tennessee Tourism Association honored the tourism industry’s top performers Wednesday, May 28 at Tennessee Hills Distillery in Bristol. The day highlighted those who contribute to tourist related community and economic development from Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.
Visit Kingsport took home the award for Festival or Event of the Year with Fun Fest. In 2024, Fun Fest celebrated its 44th year, featuring more than 90 events in 30+ locations throughout its nine-day run. Events ranged from a parade, 8K race, hot air balloons, concerts, food trucks and more. Fun Fest welcomed more than 100,000 people to various events.
Continuing the win streak, Visit Kingsport received top honors for Best Sports Event for the MATE ROV (Marina Advanced Technology Education – Remotely Operated Vehicle) World Championships. Held in June 2024, this international competition brought together more than 1,100 students, mentors, families and spectators from 17 countries around the globe. MATE had a $2.5 million-dollar economic impact.
To round out the afternoon, Eastman was awarded with the Sustainability Award for their Global Innovation Summit. Visit Kingsprt was proud to nominate Eastman for this award. Eastman’s 2024 Global Innovation Summit showcased the region’s commitment to sustainable innovation on a global stage and helped position Kingsport as a forward-thinking destination to conference attendees from across the world.
The event also recognized graduates of the Hospitality & Tourism Certificate program in partnership between East Tennessee State University and Northeast Tennessee Tourism Association, of which Visit Kingsport’s Taran Christiansen was among.
