The Discover Martin team was recently honored with three prestigious Flagler Awards during the 2026 Florida Governor’s Conference on Tourism, held at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach. The awards, presented annually by VISIT FLORIDA, recognize outstanding tourism marketing that positions the Sunshine State as a top global travel destination.
2026 Flagler Awards
This year, the Discover Martin team won a silver the “Print Advertising” category, a silver in the “Radio and Podcast Advertising” category, and a coveted “Best of Show” Henry Award distinction in the Division III category.
Each of the accolades recognized the Tourism Office’s recent A.I. Means More Here campaign, which cleverly reimagined the “A.I.” acronym to showcase different facets of a Martin County vacation. Some of the “A.I. swaps” highlighted throughout the integrated campaign included Authentic Interactions, Amazing Islands, Aquatic Itineraries, Artistic Inspiration, Angler Instincts, Alluring Invitations, and more.
“A.I. Means More Here allowed us to take a timely conversation and turn it into something uniquely Martin County, showcasing the authentic experiences, natural beauty, and personal connections that make our destination so special,” said Nerissa Okiye, Martin County Tourism Director. “These awards are a wonderful reflection of the creativity, collaboration, and bold thinking that our team always brings to the table.”
Named for Florida tourism pioneer Henry Flagler, the Flagler Awards were established in 2000 to acknowledge outstanding tourism marketing efforts across the state. Nearly 300 submissions were scored by a diverse panel of judges, evaluating the creativity, innovation, production quality, and effectiveness of each entry.
“It is an incredible honor have our work recognized by VISIT FLORIDA, and we are very proud to be celebrated alongside so many talented tourism organizations across the state,” added Ian Centrone, Martin County Deputy Tourism Director.
A news release with the full list of 2026 Flagler Award winners can be found here.