Experience Olympia and Beyond named 11 nominees for its 2026 hospitality and tourism awards on Monday, Sept. 21. The nominees work at Thurston County hotels, restaurants, galleries and venues, the nonprofit announced through ThurstonTalk.
Winners will be revealed at the organization's annual meeting, titled "Mission: Tourism Possible," on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at the South Puget Sound Community College Lacey Campus, 4220 6th Ave. SE, Lacey. The event will also preview an undisclosed project.
Four nominees are up for the Excellence in Hospitality Award, which honors a frontline worker who made guests feel welcome over the past year:
- Krista Bentow, Batdorf & Bronson Legacy Café (111 Market St. NE, Olympia)
- Angelina Blueback, Candlewood Suites Olympia/Lacey
- Sarah Hamblin, 1776 Bar and Grill
- Cher Hobbick, Altitude 15 & Bite Me Catering
Seven nominees are up for the Boldness in Tourism Award, which recognizes someone who brought new ideas for attracting visitors to the county:
- Jill Barnes, Washington Center for the Performing Arts
- Thomasina Cooper, Thurston County Fairgrounds & Event Center
- Jeff Devlin, Best of Olympia Facebook Group
- Andrea Levanti and Diego Fleitas, InGenius! Local Artisan Gallery & Boutique
- Monique Ossa, Ossa Skinworks
- Janine Phillips, Hampton Inn & Suites Olympia/Lacey
- Greg Taylor, DoubleTree by Hilton Olympia
"These nominees represent the heart of hospitality in our region," Shauna Stewart, CEO of Experience Olympia and Beyond, said in the announcement. "They are often the people visitors remember long after a trip is over."
The awards come as tourism remains a major economic force in the county. Visitor spending reached $572.5 million in 2024, supporting 4,076 jobs, according to Experience Olympia and Beyond data first reported by The Jolt News. That spending also generated $56.7 million in state and local tax revenue. Overnight guests made up 41.2% of visitors but accounted for 70.7% of total spending.
The numbers matter locally. Emily Brooks, the organization's director of marketing and community engagement, told the Lacey City Council in October 2025 that overnight tourism has "a huge impact on our community."
Tickets and event details are available at experienceolympia.com.
