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Oil Region Alliance Seeks Nominees for 2022 Tourism Awards


Oil City, PA— The Oil Region Alliance is seeking nominations for the second annual Oil Region Tourism Awards.

As the designated tourism marketing organization for Venango County and the manager of the Oil Region National Heritage Area, the ORA is excited to recognize the best of the best in hospitality in our region.

“Last year’s inaugural Tourism Awards were about reminding people of just how much the Oil Region has to offer despite the pandemic,” said ORA Communications and Tourism Manager Emily Altomare. “Now we’d like to keep the positivity going by with even more nominees and new winners.”

Anyone can make a single nomination or multiple nominations for any or every category. However, winners from 2021 are not eligible for this year.

There are eight categories.

Best Dish is for the best restaurant meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner) available in the Oil Region. Nominations must include the restaurant name and the menu item.

Best Drink is for the best cocktail, coffee, or other beverage and will need to include the menu item name and location in the nomination.

Last year both Best Dish and Best Drink were won by the Villa Italia Restaurant in Oil City for their Italian Sub and Peanut Butter Milkshake respectively. These menu items will not be eligible for 2022 awards, but anything else on the Villa Italia menu is fair game.

Best Room can be for a specific room or suite at a B&B or homeshare or any room at a specific lodging establishment such as a hotel or motel. The Caboose Motel in Titusville was the 2021 winner.

Best Shop is for retail locations of any kind and does not have to be directly related to the tourism industry. Cross and Co. Boutique won in 2021.

Best Industry Advocate is for an individual who regularly sings the praises of the Oil Region, someone who frequently shares hospitality info on social media and encourages attendance at community functions. Ashley Zaccari Smith was named Best Advocate in 2021.

Best Industry Partner/Organization can go to a specific hospitality industry business or an organization that contributes greatly to the offerings of the region. The Be Here program of the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce won in 2021.

Best Must Do Activity or Attraction requests nominations for the best places to go and things to do in the region, such as a museum, festival, or bike path. The bike trails were named the Best Activity for 2021.

Best Landmark will honor a specific location that guests shouldn’t miss during a visit, such as a monument, oilfield relic, architectural feature, or selfie site. Drake Well Museum and Park was named the Best Landmark in 2021.

Locations should be within the Oil Region National Heritage Area, which includes all of Venango County, plus Titusville, Oil Creek Township, and Hydetown in Crawford County.

The nomination period begins Monday, August 22, and concludes on Labor Day, Monday, September 5. Nominations can be made via e-mail to Altomare at ealtomare@oilregion.org or by commenting on Oil Region Tourism Awards posts on the ORA’s social media. Nominations will not be taken by phone but can be mailed to the ORA office at 217 Elm St., Oil City, PA 16301.

Voting will occur via an online link available through the ORA’s social media as well. Voting will open Tuesday, September 6th, and conclude Friday, September 16.

Winners will be announced the following week.

There are no cash prizes for the winners, but nominees and winners will be promoted through the ORA’s marketing efforts.

For more information about the contest, please contact ealtomare@oilregion.org


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