Destination Dutchess, the officially designated destination marketing organization for Dutchess County, has been recognized with two 2025 New York State Tourism Excellence Awards by the New York State Tourism Industry Association (NYSTIA). The awards celebrate outstanding achievements in destination marketing, innovation, and visitor engagement across the state. With these wins, Destination Dutchess has earned a total of nine NYSTIA awards in the past three years, including Excellence in Overall Tourism Marketing: TPA/County/DMO Local Level in 2023. Prior to this run, they also won the award for Most Significant COVID Response in Support of a Community in 2021.
Destination Dutchess was honored in the following categories this year:
“These awards are a testament to the creativity, strategic thinking and dedication of the Destination Dutchess team and our valued partners,” said Melaine Rottkamp, president and CEO of Destination Dutchess. “Projects like Commander in Cheers and the Discover Dutchess Destination Guide would not be possible without the collaboration and talents of our agency of record, FourthIdea, and the production team at Today Media, along with countless local partners who helped bring these initiatives to life. We are proud to represent Dutchess County as a leader in innovative and strategic tourism marketing.”
The Commander in Cheers experience, launched Presidents Day Weekend 2024, kicked off the county’s multiyear celebration of the United States’ 250th Anniversary, sparking new engagement with the Revolutionary War history of Dutchess County. A collaborative effort between Destination Dutchess, Dutchess County Historian William P. Tatum III, Ph.D., technology partner Evercoast and FourthIdea, Commander in Cheers is an immersive augmented reality experience that educates, entertains, and inspires people of all ages through six stories told by a “Tiny George” Washington accessible through QR codes on specially marked coasters at select taverns, tasting rooms and restaurants throughout the county. Evercoast’s pioneering AI-enabled digital capture and rendering of high-fidelity yet cost-effective 3D volumetric video was used to capture preeminent George Washington reenactor John Koopman III. The finished product was a photorealistic output of a 3D digital Washington who headquartered in Pawling in 1778. Learn more at commanderincheers.com.
“Dutchess County is proud to support the award-winning work of Destination Dutchess. These honors are a reflection of the creativity, passion and purpose that drive their efforts to showcase our history, culture, and natural beauty,” said Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino. “As we look ahead to America’s 250th anniversary, it’s especially meaningful to see our local history celebrated through innovative projects like Commander in Cheers, which bring our role in the founding of our nation to life in such a fun and engaging way. These recognitions are well-deserved, and we’re thrilled to share in this success.”
The 2024 Discover Dutchess Destination Guide, produced in partnership with Today Media Custom Communications, is the organization's flagship print publication. Designed to inspire travel, the guide features stunning photography, inclusive content, and thoughtful editorial storytelling that highlights all four regions of Dutchess County. With trip-planning tips, town itineraries, regional highlights and local Certified Tourism Ambassador recommendations, the 68-page full-color guide serves as a vital resource for visitors and a valuable marketing tool for tourism businesses across the region. Each year, 75,000 free copies are distributed at hotels and more than 20 locations within the county, at major events and key travel gateways throughout the Northeast, trade shows nationally and by request. A digital version of the new 2025 guide is available at destinationdutchess.com/brochures-guides-newsletters.
Brandon Walker, chair of the Destination Dutchess Board of Directors, also applauded the achievement. “Congratulations to the Destination Dutchess team on these well-deserved awards. Their dedication to showcasing Dutchess County’s unique attractions through thoughtful, creative marketing sets the standard for destination marketing excellence in New York State.” He added, “These projects are shining examples of how we tell the story of our community to inspire visitation and drive economic impact.”
The awards were presented during NYSTIA’s annual New York State Tourism Excellence Awards ceremony, which recognizes best-in-class efforts from tourism promotion agencies, attractions, and industry leaders across New York on September 11, 2025, at the Fort William Henry Hotel & Conference Center in Lake George, NY.
For more information on Destination Dutchess and to explore Dutchess County, visit destinationdutchess.com.
