Dutchess County’s tourism community gathered Tuesday, Nov. 10, to honor its brightest standouts as Destination Dutchess named the winners of its 13th annual Tourism Awards of Distinction. Held at The Henry A. Wallace Center at the FDR Presidential Library and Home in Hyde Park, the breakfast ceremony spotlighted the businesses and individuals whose hard work, creativity and hospitality fuel the local visitor economy and keep the county among the Hudson Valley’s most sought-after destinations.
The top honor, the Dutchess County Executive’s Award for Overall Tourism Distinction, went to the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park. Winners were also named in seven other categories: Hospitality Service, Storytelling, Collaboration, Events, Accessible Hospitality, Newcomer and the Mary Kay Vrba Spirit Award. Read about each winner and finalist at destinationdutchess.com/awards.
Founded to train returning World War II veterans for culinary careers, the CIA has spent eight decades shaping the future of food, training the next world-class chefs and making Dutchess County a destination for food lovers from around the globe. Its status as an elite institution continues to attract major investment to Hyde Park through key business partnerships. Japanese sake maker Dassai opened its first U.S. brewery in 2023 and works with the college on sake curriculum, certification programs and public classes, while the ultra-luxury One&Only resort, projected to open in 2029 adjacent to the campus, will offer guests immersive culinary experiences created with the CIA.
The Mary Kay Vrba Spirit Award, honors the selflessness, service, inclusiveness and leadership Vrba championed during her 25-year career at Dutchess Tourism, where she served as president and CEO before retiring in 2020. This year's award was presented to Elaine Hayes, executive director of Mount Gulian Historic Site in Beacon. Serving as Mount Gulian's executive director since 1992, Hayes has diligently worked to preserve and share the thousands of years' worth of history documented at the site, dating back long before the Verplanck family built its homestead in 1730. Through school programs, tours, exhibits and events, she and her staff show visitors of all ages that history is relevant to their own lives by telling the amazing stories of these people who lived there, some of whom even played significant roles in shaping American history.
“I’m so grateful to Destination Dutchess and the tourism community for this recognition,” Hayes said. “Mount Gulian is truly a microcosm of American history, and I’m inspired every day by the stories that unfolded here. For example, many visitors arrive knowing little about Gen. von Steuben but leave understanding how much he contributed to America’s independence, and that only happens when people feel comfortable and welcomed.” A passionate advocate for the county’s smaller historic sites and historical societies, Hayes hopes more travelers and residents will discover the hidden-gem collections and stories they hold.
Melaine Rottkamp, president and CEO of Destination Dutchess, noted that having such outstanding events and attractions like these awardees helps her team attract visitors who will spend their travel dollars in the county’s towns and villages, for the ultimate benefit of residents. “Every year, the Tourism Awards of Distinction remind us that Dutchess County’s greatest asset is its people — the owners, innovators, storytellers and front-line heroes who turn a first visit into a lasting connection,” she said. “This year’s finalists and winners 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’re so thrilled to shine a light on their great work.”
Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino, who presented the County Executive’s Award for Overall Tourism Distinction, joined Rottkamp in congratulating the winners and finalists. “Dutchess County is proud to be home to an exceptional community of tourism and hospitality professionals,” she said, “Tourism is one of the strongest engines of our economy, supporting local businesses, driving investment, creating jobs at all income and education levels and enriching our neighbors’ quality of life. We’re grateful for their continued hard work and for all Destination Dutchess does to support them. On behalf of Dutchess County, I thank and congratulate these honorees."
The 2026 Destination Dutchess Tourism Awards of Distinction winners are:
Dutchess County Executive’s Award for Overall Tourism Distinction winner: Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park
Finalists: Hudson Valley Renegades, Wappingers Falls; Walkway Over the Hudson, Poughkeepsie
Tourism Newcomer Award of Distinction winner: House of Stefas, Millbrook
Finalists: Fika & Hygge, Poughkeepsie; The Wild Kitchen + Bar, Beacon
Tourism Events Award of Distinction winner: Hudson Valley Hot-Air Balloon Festival at Town of Union Vale’s Tymor Park, LaGrangeville, Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce
Finalists: Beacon Bonfire Music + Art Festival in Beacon, BonfireWORKS Foundation; Hudson Valley Wine and Food Festival at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Rhinebeck, Grape Events Partners, LLC
Tourism Collaboration Award of Distinction winner: Beacon Rev250 Committee, Beacon
Finalists: Eastdale Village, Poughkeepsie; Tivoli Merchants + Artists, Tivoli
Tourism Storytelling Award of Distinction winner: Staatsburgh State Historic Site’s Outdoor Interpretive Programs, Staatsburg
Finalists: Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, Hyde Park; Tenmile Distillery’s Revolutionary Whisky, Wassaic
Accessible Hospitality Award of Distinction winner: Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Rhinebeck
Finalists: The Heartwood at Vassar, Poughkeepsie; Stony Kill Foundation, Wappingers Falls
Hospitality Service Award of Distinction winner: Judy D'Alessandro, HYATT House, Fishkill
Finalists: Barry Frommer, The Roundhouse at Beacon Falls, Beacon; Marie Stewart, The Stissing Center for Arts and Culture, Pine Plains
The Awards of Distinction event was 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.
