Visit Florida Keys & Key West Takes Top Honors at 2026 Flagler Awards
Four statewide awards recognize standout work in sustainability, social media, nmobile marketing and the destination website
FLORIDA KEYS, Fla. (September 15, 2026) — Four awards. Two top honors. And one unforgettable night for Visit Florida Keys & Key West, which emerged as a standout at the 2026 Flagler Awards for work spanning sustainable tourism, social media, mobile marketing and the destination’s next-generation website.
Presented during the 2026 Florida Governor’s Conference on Tourism in West Palm Beach, Visit Florida Keys & Key West received two coveted Henry Awards, the highest award in their respective categories, and two Silver Awards.
The recognition comes as Visit Florida Keys & Key West continues to evolve its approach to destination marketing, finding creative new ways to tell the Florida Keys story and connect with travelers while keeping conservation and stewardship at the heart of its work.
“I’m incredibly proud of our team and what these awards represent,” said Kara Franker, president and CEO of Visit Florida Keys & Key West. “We’ve been very intentional about how we tell the Florida Keys story, and I love that these honors reflect so many different sides of that work. It’s incredibly rewarding to be recognized among the best in Florida while staying true to what makes the Florida Keys so special.”
Now in its 26th year, the Flagler Awards are presented by VISIT FLORIDA to recognize outstanding tourism marketing throughout the state. Nearly 300 entries from large and small organizations competed in the 2026 awards program.
An independent panel of 14 judges evaluated entries for creativity, innovation, production quality and effectiveness. Named in honor of Henry Flagler, the Henry Award goes to the highest-scoring entry in each category, with Silver and Bronze Awards presented to the next highest-scoring entries.
Visit Florida Keys & Key West earned its two highest honors for work that reflects two important sides of destination marketing: stewardship and storytelling. The Integrated Ecotourism Program received the Henry Award for Sustainable Tourism Marketing, while “Destination Instant Experiences” took top honors in Social Media Marketing.
The organization also earned a Silver Award for its next-generation destination website, recognizing the ongoing transformation of VisitFloridaKeys.com as a more dynamic and engaging resource for travelers, and a Silver Award for the “Key West Duo Scroller” in Mobile Marketing.
For Franker, the four awards reflect the collaboration and ingenuity behind the team’s work spanning distinctly different areas of destination marketing.
“What stands out to me is that these awards recognize four very different pieces of our work,” Franker said. “We’re being recognized for how we care for the destination, how we tell its story and how we connect with travelers. That takes a lot of creativity and collaboration, and it speaks to the talent of our team and agency partners and the care they bring to showcasing the Florida Keys.”
Visit Florida Keys & Key West earned:
- Henry Award — Sustainable Tourism Marketing: Integrated Ecotourism Program
- Henry Award — Social Media Marketing: “Destination Instant Experiences”
- Silver Award — Websites: “Next-Generation Website for the Future of Destination Marketing”
- Silver Award — Mobile Marketing: “Key West Duo Scroller”
For more information about the Florida Keys & Key West, visit www.visitfloridakeys.com.
Supporting high-res images and associated credit information is available HERE.
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From left, Chip Wile, chair of the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors; Mary B. Haban, senior director of public relations for Visit Florida Keys & Key West; Kara Franker, president and CEO of Visit Florida Keys & Key West; Crystal Blaskis, vice president of marketing and communications for Visit Florida Keys & Key West; and Bryan Griffin, CEO of VISIT FLORIDA, celebrate four honors presented to the Florida Keys destination marketing organization at the 2026 Flagler Awards in West Palm Beach. Visit Florida Keys & Key West received two Henry Awards and two Silver Awards for work spanning sustainable tourism, social media, website development and mobile marketing. (Visit Florida)
About Visit Florida Keys & Key West
Visit Florida Keys & Key West (VFK) is the official destination marketing organization for the Monroe County Tourist Development Council. VFK leads research-based marketing to sustainably grow the Florida Keys’ tourism industry, which directly supports nearly 19,700 local jobs. An additional 5,700 jobs are supported by the secondary effects of tourism spending. Together, these jobs generate $1.12 billion annually in wages, benefits and proprietor income. Visitor spending puts real money back into the community, generating $180 million in local taxes in 2025. Over the most recent five-year period, visitor-generated tax revenue supported $34.7 million for tourism-related attractions, $14.7 million for beaches and beach facilities, $11.3 million for community events, $7.6 million for cultural events and the arts, $5.2 million for coral restoration and the marine sanctuary, and $15 million for fishing and diving events. Tourism-generated state and local tax revenue was equivalent to approximately $11,900 per local household, including an estimated $1,253 in property-tax savings alone.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Mary B. Haban
Director of Public Relations
Visit Florida Keys & Key West
305.394.3142
Visit Florida Keys PR Agency Team (TURNER)