The Visitor Beat
Welcome to The Visitor Beat, the monthly newsletter of Experience Sioux Falls. Stay up-to-date on what's going on locally in the travel industry, as well as what's trending nationally.
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Recent Sales Booking
The Experience Sioux Falls (ESF) sales team recently booked the 2025 Core-Mark Vendor Fair & Iowa Fall Show to be held in Sioux Falls this November. This will be a first-time event for Sioux Falls which is expected to bring in 350 people for the multi-day show.
Core-Mark is a wholesale distributor that provides products, marketing, and technology solutions to the convenience store industry.
The ESF sales team has a few other exciting recent bookings to announce in the near future.
The Summit League Basketball Championships to Stay in Sioux Falls
In case you missed it, the Summit League recently announced that its Basketball Championships will remain in Sioux Falls at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center through 2029 after a contract extension was approved by the Summit League’s President Council. The 2026 event will mark the 18th consecutive year that it has been hosted in Sioux Falls, which has generated more than $90 million in estimated economic impact for the community.
South Dakota Governor’s Conference on Tourism Award Nominations
Mark your calendars for the 2026 South Dakota Governor's Conference on Tourism which will be held January 20-22 in Pierre. Conference registration and more information will be announced by Travel South Dakota in the coming months.
Each year during the conference, awards are presented to members or organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the state’s visitor industry.
Five of the awards are based on peer nominations, so you are encouraged to get your nominations in for those who deserve to be recognized for their work in the travel and tourism industry. The deadline to submit nominations is November 18, 2025. The award winners will be announced on the evening of Thursday, January 22 during the conference.
Governor’s Tourism Rising Star Award
Recognizes an individual who has worked in the South Dakota tourism industry for 2-4 years and excels at their job, is passionate about the industry’s growth and importance, is engaged on the local and state levels, and will make a positive difference in the future.
Ben Black Elk Award
Recognizes an individual who has made tireless and outstanding contributions to the state’s tourism industry.
A.H. Pankow Award
Recognizes a member of the media or public relations industry who has shown superior interest in and coverage of the South Dakota tourism industry.
Peter Norbeck Excellence in Tourism Innovation Award
Awarded to a member of the South Dakota tourism industry for innovative marketing, special promotions, or improvements to their business or attraction that elevates the visitor experience and catches the attention of the visitor industry.
Ruth Ziolkowski Outstanding Hospitality & Customer Service Award
Recognizes members of the of the South Dakota tourism industry who, like Ruth Ziolkowski, provide remarkable service to every visitor he or she encounters, and whose work demonstrates an outstanding spirit of hospitality, warmth and genuine kindness.
George S. Mickelson Award
Honors businesses, communities, or organizations that have done an exemplary job of exceeding visitors’ expectations in customer service.
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Bikers Welcomed as Part of Rally Rush
To help welcome the bikers stopping in Sioux Falls during their journey out west for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, Experience Sioux Falls (ESF) was able to provide promotional materials and swag, thanks to a “Rally Rush” campaign initiative from Travel South Dakota. ESF distributed the promotional items to area partners who see frequent Sturgis Motorcycle Rally traffic to display in their place of business and to give away to the riders.
