From family farms and historic estates to stages, galleries and hotel front desks, the people and places that make Dutchess County a destination worth discovering are taking a well-deserved bow. Destination Dutchess today announced the finalists for its 13th annual Tourism Awards of Distinction, which recognize tourism-related businesses — hotels, restaurants, attractions and experiences — making significant contributions to Dutchess County as a vibrant destination in New York’s Hudson Valley.
Winners will be announced at the 13th annual Tourism Awards of Distinction Breakfast on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 9 a.m., at the Henry A. Wallace Center at the FDR Presidential Library and Home in Hyde Park. The breakfast is the largest annual gathering of tourism stakeholders and local leaders in Dutchess County, offering a chance to network, celebrate one another’s successes and support the mission of Destination Dutchess.
This year, 21 finalists will be recognized across seven categories honoring storytelling, collaboration, events, accessible hospitality, individual hospitality service, newcomers and overall achievement, with the last award presented as the Dutchess County Executive’s Award for Overall Tourism Distinction.
Also to be honored is Elaine Hayes, executive director of Mount Gulian Historic Site in Beacon, who will receive the 2026 Mary Kay Vrba Spirit Award. The award recognizes an individual who embodies the selflessness, service, inclusiveness and leadership that the retired Vrba championed during her 25-year tenure as president and CEO.
Hayes has led Mount Gulian since 1992, working to share the remarkable stories rooted on its grounds overlooking the Hudson River. Built by the Verplanck family in 1730, the homestead served as the 1782-83 headquarters of Gen. Friedrich von Steuben and as the birthplace of the Society of the Cincinnati, the nation’s first veterans’ fraternal organization. Under Hayes’ leadership, the site also shares the story of James F. Brown, who escaped slavery in Maryland and spent about 40 years as Mount Gulian’s master gardener and trusted property manager, keeping a journal that offers a rare firsthand account of Black life in mid-1800s. Through school programs, tours, exhibits and special events, Hayes and her staff show visitors of all ages that history is relevant to their own lives.
“Every year, the Awards of Distinction remind us that Dutchess County’s greatest attraction is its people — the owners, innovators, storytellers and front-line heroes who turn a first visit into a lasting connection,” said Melaine Rottkamp, president and CEO of Destination Dutchess. “This year’s finalists have raised the bar for hospitality and creativity, and Elaine Hayes has spent more than three decades proving how powerful a well-told story can be. We can’t wait to celebrate all of them together.”
The 2026 Destination Dutchess Tourism Awards of Distinction finalists:
The Dutchess County Executive’s Award for Overall Tourism Distinction honors businesses and organizations whose growth, innovation and investment have helped shape Dutchess County into a destination that draws millions of visitors from around the world.
The Newcomer Award of Distinction celebrates a tourism-related business or attraction that opened in Dutchess County during the 2025 calendar year. Though new to the scene, these finalists are already winning over visitors and neighbors alike.
The Events Award of Distinction recognizes organizations whose Dutchess County events drew visitors with creative, engaging and entertaining experiences while delivering a meaningful boost to the local tourism economy.
The Collaboration Award of Distinction honors businesses that teamed up with fellow businesses or community partners — forging creative partnerships, sharing local products and ingredients or bringing a compelling theme to life — to attract visitors and strengthen one another. These efforts showcase the new events, attractions and locally made products that keep visitors coming back to Dutchess County.
The Storytelling Award of Distinction recognizes finalists who bring Dutchess County’s history, heritage and culture to life, connecting with visitors through a distinctive perspective and voice.
The Accessible Hospitality Award of Distinction honors a lodging property, restaurant, attraction or event that goes beyond Americans with Disabilities Act requirements to create welcoming, supportive and inclusive experiences for travelers of all abilities.
The Hospitality Service Award of Distinction celebrates a front-line team member who consistently goes above and beyond to give visitors an exceptional experience.
Read about each finalist on the Tourism Awards of Distinction website at destinationdutchess.com/awards.
Guests will celebrate the finalists and hear the winners announced while enjoying a locally-sourced breakfast buffet catered by Simply Gourmet featuring maple syrup from Soukup Farms, tea from Harney & Sons Teas and coffee from Pawling Coffee Roasters. Advance ticket purchase is required to attend the event.
Drawing tickets are being sold online for a chance to win one of several prizes, including dinner for two at any Culinary Institute of America restaurant (Hyde Park), a Pick-Your-Own gift card at Fishkill Farms, a pair of tickets to Mount Gulian Historic Site’s 2027 Annual History Dinner, spirits from Denning's Point Distillery, an overnight stay at Curry Estate with gift certificate to Restaurant Six, a pair of concert tickets to Northern Dutchess Symphony Orchestra’s 2026-2027 regular season, and a gift certificate to Amanda's Macaron Shoppe and Just a Little Pie Shop. In-person attendance is not required to win.
The Awards of Distinction event is supported by diamond sponsors Central Hudson and iHeart Media of the Hudson Valley and platinum sponsors Adams Fairacre Farms, Courtyard and Residence Inn by Marriott Poughkeepsie, Eastdale Village, Marist University and Simply Gourmet.
