Birmingham was abuzz with talk of Foley at the Alabama Governor’s Conference on Tourism Monday night as the City of Foley and the new Foley entertainment destination, OWA took home 2 of the coveted 13 award.
Representatives of the City of Foley Tourism department accept the Tourism Organization of the Year Award at the Alabama Governor’s Conference on Tourism.
On August 21, the City of Foley was presented with the Tourism Organization of the Year award. The Alabama Tourism Department recognized the city as being dedicated to bringing in visitors by building the Foley Sports Tourism Complex.
“The City of Foley will be presented with the Tourism Organization of the Year award for its continued commitment to Alabama’s sports tourism market with the opening of the city’s new state-of-the-art sports complex featuring 16 outdoor fields and a 90,000-square-foot indoor events center,” the department stated in a press release.
The fields opened in May of 2016 and have played host to numerous tournaments throughout the year bringing thousands of visitors to Foley. The event center will see its first event in September with the Bounders Beach Bash gymnastics tournament coming to town. The single event is expected to bring in 800 participants and their families for the weekend.
But the City of Foley wasn’t the only one to snag an award. Foley Sports Tourism Complex neighbor, OWA took home the award for the 2018 Attraction of the Year. The 520-acre entertainment destination features an amusement park, restaurants, dining and a hotel directly adjacent to the sports complex, giving visitors the chance to stay, play, dine, and shop all in one place.
City of Foley Mayor John Koniar said the partnership between OWA and the City is a step in the right direction and these awards are proof.
“Foley is very honored to receive this award. We’ve been working for several years to give visitors more reasons to come to Foley,” Koniar said. “Our partnership with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians has created a project that is transforming our city. The city is providing playing fields and an events center adjacent to their new OWA destination resort. We appreciate their partnership, and the opportunity it provides for us all. This is an investment in tourism that will benefit not only Foley, but the Gulf Coast area, and the state as well.”
