Winners of Southern Delaware Tourism Awards announced

Though many Sussex County citizens may curmudgeonly snub the influx of tourists during the summer months, tourism generates $1.9 billion in annual gross domestic product for the county, according to Southern Delaware Tourism. It also supports approximately 18,000 jobs in the area.

“Tourism is about more than a destination, or an event, or a coastline,” said Mariah Calagione, co-founder and communitarian of Dogfish Head. “Tourism starts with community. When tourists leave Southern Delaware, and they remember the people they met here and remember our community, we win... It’s the experiences that people have when they’re here that will bring them back.”

On Dec. 11, Southern Delaware Tourism announced the annual awards, highlighting the individuals, events, and attractions that make the shore special for both the community and those who visit. The event took place at the Lighthouse Cove Event Center in Dewey Beach.

Awards were given for four categories including Best New Event, Best Attraction, Best Event and Tourism Partner of the Year.

The winners were:

• Best New Event: Vietnam Veterans Memorial Moving Wall, The American Legion Family of Post 17, Lewes. 

The event, a moving, 250-foot scale replica of the Washington, D.C. Vietnam Veterans Memorial, honors more than 58,000 soldiers who died during that war. The event was made possible by over 300 volunteers and contributors.

The memorial brought in over 8,000 visitors from Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Delaware and gave them a look at the sacrifice of the conflict. 

“Every penny, every dollar, every smile, every idea, and all the hours of thinking, planning, and doing made Wall Weekend possible,” said Murt Foos, president of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 17.

• Best Attraction: Cinema Art Theater, Rehoboth Beach Film Society.

The Cinema Art Theater opened in 2016. The CAT is more than just a theater; it has been a main base for the film society, creating a place for cinema, cultural enrichment and the sharing of art. Open year-round, the theater has become a cornerstone for Rehoboth tourism, showing off independent films from around the world.

Since 2016, the CAT has filled more than 80,000 seats, hosted over 3,000 events, and has shown more than 500 films. It’s also one of three venues used in the  Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival, a favorite amongst seaside movie-goers and tourists alike. There are film society members from over 12 different states, and the array of festivals bring in $31,000 to $52,000 in revenue.

“What provides an experience from being entertained, being educated, and just plain making you think?” asked Carol Everhart, president and CEO of the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Chamber of Commerce, while announcing the award. “The best darn attraction in Sussex County Delaware.”

• Best Event: Southern Delaware Wine, Food & Music Festival (SoDel Fest), Creative Coastal Connections Corp.

Since its first iteration in 2015, SoDelFest has donated over $130,000 to a collection of nonprofits. In 2019, over 600 people from Delaware and surrounding states attended, and the festival benefited Children & Families First and the Beau Biden Foundation. This draw from other areas causes an increase in the local tourism economy with travelers staying at nearby hotels and visiting local shops.

The event allows for over 20 local restaurants, 14 wine distributors, and musicians to showcase their talents and products. It also hosts a Chef Throwdown among local cooks, creating a fun atmosphere for both guests and chefs. 

“We could fill this whole room with the volunteers, the restaurants, the distributors, the sponsors, and the people who really help put this together,” said Stacy LaMotta of Creative Coastal Connections Corp. “We are so thankful for them and all of you.”

• Tourism Partner of the Year: Delaware Beach Life magazine.

For nearly two decades, Delaware Beach Life magazine has highlighted the best parts of the coast, giving readers from all over a taste of things to see and enjoy when visiting (or living in) the beach area. The publication has also partnered with Southern Delaware Tourism for a reoccurring Culinary Coast column, highlighting a collection of local restaurants.

Delaware Beach Life also pushes to help tourists enjoy their stay, with free copies in every coastal area hotel room, and ad donations and discounted ads for area chambers and other nonprofits. 

 “One of our slogans is that if you love Coastal Delaware, then you’ll really love Delaware Beach life,” said Terry Plowman, founder, editor, and publisher of Delaware Beach Life. 

“But I was thinking that we could change that to if you love Coastal Delaware, then you’ll really love all of Southern Delaware,” he said.