Michigan routinely ranks among the most awarded and sought after destinations for tourism, welcoming more than 130 million visitors annually. With its storied history, the Pure Award honors tourism sites, attractions and organizations who are working to preserve and protect our cultural, historical and environmental sites that are so widely recognized around the globe.
Who is eligible:
New in 2026, the Pure Award is expanding to include a category for individual recognition AND organizations.
- Organizational Eligibility:
- All industries are eligible to participate (tourism and non-tourism related)
- All for-profit and non-profit entities are eligible
- Initiatives or projects can be year-round or for a short period of time (such as an event or seasonal project
- Individual Eligibility:
- Individuals must work directly with the project or projects highlighted in their nomination forms and be involved operationally with the execution of the project
Examples of work that can be considered for the Pure Award:
- Preservation or restoration work at cultural, historical and tourist sites
- Environmental stewardship to reduce visitor impact (such as transitioning to renewable energy, litter prevention, waste reduction, waterway clean-ups, invasive species control, etc.)
- Storytelling of Michigan history
- Public engagement for Michigan history, cultural, sites, and events and what makes us “Pure Michigan”
- Preservation of land for public use to recreate or to provide biodiversity and ecological protection for future generations
- Creating greater accessibility for community members and educational programs
- If your work contributes to making our state and industry “Pure Michigan,” you qualify for the Pure Award!
Winners will be selected based on the following criteria:
- Projects must support Michigan's natural, cultural and/or heritage stewardship through active projects, events, restoration work, preservation, public engagement or enhancement of Michigan's tourism industry.
- Projects must demonstrate impact for the general public and visitors to Michigan
- Projects must be already completed or in the process of completion. Future projects that have not begun will not eligible
The recipient will be recognized at the 2026 Pure Michigan Governor's Conference on Tourism in Traverse City, MI from April 7-9, 2026.