CALTRAVEL AWARDS

Over the years, we’ve had the honor of presenting awards to many exceptional members who have truly made a difference in California’s travel and tourism industry.

Check out the full list of 2026 award winners, and be sure to watch their videos to learn why they’re so deserving of this recognition. We know their stories will inspire you as much as they’ve inspired us.

2026 award WINNERS

F. NORMAN CLARK TOURISM CHAMPION

**Visit Sacramento**
(Accepted by Sonya Bradley)

BRAD BURLINGAME AWARD

**Rhonda Salisbury**
CEO, Visit Yosemite | Madera County

DEI&A CHAMPION

**Visit Santa Cruz County**
(Accepted by Terence Concannon & Denise Harris)

GREAT WORKPLACE AWARD

**Civitas Advisors**
(Accepted by John Lambeth & the Civitas Team)

WATCH VIDEO

RISING STAR
AWARD

**Katelyn Riccardi**
Director of Marketing & Communications, Discover Santa Clara

SUSTAINABILITY & STEWARDSHIP AWARD

**Dr. Paige Viren**
Executive Director, Sustainable Hospitality & Tourism Management Program, CSU Monterey Bay

WATCH VIDEO

30 & UNDER EMERGING LEADER AWARDS

The 30 & Under Emerging Leader Award recipients were Kailey Alegria, San Diego Tourism Authority; Krista Bailey-Sherman, See Monterey; Jenna Conrad, JNS Next; Bailey DiNatale, Visit Camarillo; Cassidy Goodman, PIER 39; Jenna Kirkeeng, Film Santa Monica; Lucia Mercado, Explore Butte County; Emily Ohara, Santa Monica Travel & Tourism; Tori Papania, LEGOLAND California Resort; Kamryn Rivas, LEGOLAND California Resort; Leslie Rojas Garcia, LEGOLAND California Resort; Alex Samuels, The San Francisco Peninsula; Veronica Voorhees, Visit Oceanside; Avalon Waters Cassard, PIER 39; and Raquel Willys, JNS Next.

ALL PAST WINNERS

2026 — Rhonda Salisbury, CEO, Visit Yosemite | Madera County
2025 — Kelly Miller, President & CEO, Visit Huntington Beach
2024 — Patti MacJennett, Chief Stakeholder Officer, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
2023 — Gary Sherwin, President & CEO, Newport Beach & Company
2022 — Joe Terzi, Former President & CEO, San Diego Tourism Authority
2021 — John Lambeth, Founder & President, Civitas
2020 — No award presented
2019 — Michael Krouse, President & CEO, Greater Ontario Convention & Visitors Bureau
2026 — Senator Angelique Ashby, District 8, California State Senate
2025 — Assemblymember Matt Haney, District 17, California State Assembly
2024 — Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva, District 67, California State Assembly
2023 — Senator Bill Dodd, California State Senator
2022 — Eleni Kounalakis, Lieutenant Governor, California
2021 — Dee Dee Myers, Director, GO-Biz; Mike McGuire, California State Senator
2020 — No award presented
2019 — Tom Umberg, California State Senator
2018 — Toni Atkins
2017 — Lisa Bartlett
2016 — No award presented
2015 — Sam Farr
2014 — Phil Ting
2013 — John Perez
2012 — Jared Huffman
2011 — Fran Pavley
2026 — Visit Santa Cruz County
2025 — Mechelle Best, Dean of the College of Health & Human Development, CSU Northridge
2024 — Viola Ncube, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Visit Pleasant Hill
2023 — Visit Greater Palm Springs
2022 — Jerri Harris, Sr. Advertising Sales Specialist, Autoclub of Southern California/AAA Westways
2021 — Sonya Bradley, Chief of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
2026 — Visit Sacramento
2025 — Lisa Mayo, President & CEO, Visit Tuolumne County
2024 — Javier Cano, Area General Manager, The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles & JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE
2023 — Joe D’Alessandro, President & CEO, San Francisco Travel Association
2022 — Marilyn Hannes, Senior Vice President, Strategic Relationships, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment
2021 — Caroline Beteta, President & CEO, Visit California
2020 — No award presented
2019 — Joe Terzi, President & CEO, San Diego Tourism Authority
2018 — John Poimiroo
2017 — Steve Hammond
2016 — Brad Burlingame
2015 — Cirque du Soleil
2014 — Bob Warren
2013 — Werner Escher
2012 — Jack O’Neill
2011 — Caroline Beteta
2010 — Huell Howser
2009 — Arnold Schwarzenegger
2026 — Civitas Advisors
2025 — Expedia Group
2024 — LEGOLAND California
2023 — Travelzoo
2022 — The Ritz-Carlton/JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE
2021 — Visit Oxnard
2020 — No award presented
2019 — Ventura Visitors & Convention Bureau
2026 — Katelyn Riccardi, Director of Marketing & Communications, Discover Santa Clara
2025 — Jasmine Avalos, Social Media & Content Manager, Travel Costa Mesa
2024 — Nichole Farley, Executive Director, Explore Butte County
2023 — Brittney Hendricks, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, Visit Oxnard
2022 — Lindsey Stevens, Vice President of Marketing Communications, Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau
2021 — Derek Kirk, Director of Community Engagement & Advocacy, Visit SLO CAL
2026 — Dr. Paige Viren, Executive Director, Sustainable Hospitality & Tourism Management Program, CSU Monterey Bay
2025 — Kind Traveler
2024 — North Tahoe Community Alliance
2023 — Sonoma County Tourism
2022 — Davin Waite, Executive Chef & Co-Founder, Wrench and Rodent, The Plot, and Shootz Fish and Beer
2021 — Aquarium of the Bay
2020 — No award presented
2019 — Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau