Visit Watertown Announces 2026 Tourism Awards and Grand Opening of New Downtown Office

"Live from Watertown: Executive Director and Director of Marketing discuss 2026 Tourism Awards and new downtown office opening on Northeast Radio SD."

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The local tourism landscape is about to look a little different. During a live broadcast on Monday, March 23, the leaders of Visit Watertown announced that they are officially moving their headquarters to the historic Goss Opera House and are now seeking nominations for the 2026 Tourism Awards.

Celebrating Local Excellence

National Travel and Tourism Week is scheduled for May 3–9, 2026. As part of the celebration, Visit Watertown is inviting the community to recognize outstanding local businesses and individuals. Categories for the awards include:

·         Best Attraction

·         Best Retail

·         Best Hotel

·         Best Restaurant

·         Best Event (New, Innovative, or Established)

·         The Gordon “Gordy” Ostas Outstanding Customer Service Award

“If you’ve received great customer service, or you know someone who has, we want to hear about it,” said Anjelica Uthe. “We’ll take those nominations to our committee and let the winners know.”

Nominations are open through April 24, 2026, and can be submitted online at visitwatertownsd.com/awards.

A New Home in the Goss Opera House

In a move that puts the organization at the heart of the downtown revitalization, Visit Watertown is relocating to the former Mod’s Mercantile space within the Goss Opera House. The team expects to be fully moved in by next week.

To celebrate the new space, a public Ribbon Cutting and Open House is scheduled for Thursday, May 7, at 4:00 PM.

“We aren’t doing cubicles,” Lindsay Stangl joked while describing the new layout. “We’re going to have a little seating area up front with our visitor guides and brochures. It’s a work in progress, but we think it’s going to come together beautifully.”

Focus on Professional Growth

Beyond the move, the team highlighted upcoming customer service seminars hosted by Travel South Dakota and the South Dakota Retailers.

This year’s theme is “Choosing to Care: How Curiosity Creates Community in the Workplace.”

While there isn’t a Session in Watertown this year, local professionals are encouraged to attend the free sessions in Aberdeen (May 6) or Sioux Falls (May 7).

Staying Connected

With high-profile events like State A Girls Basketball and Junior Varsity State Hockey recently wrapping up, the team reminded residents and visitors alike to use the Yodl calendar on the website to stay informed about local happenings. Additionally, as camping season approaches, the “Stay” tab on their website now features detailed information on Lake Kampeska and Pelican Lake recreation areas.

For more information on upcoming events or to sign up for the Visit Watertown newsletter, visit visitwatertownsd.com.