Release Date: March 12,2025
Akron/Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau Opens Voting for Annual Zenith Awards
AKRON, OH (March 12, 2025) – Get ready to cast your votes! The Akron/Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau (ASCVB) has opened voting for its 22nd Zenith Awards, an annual celebration recognizing hospitality industry partners within Summit County, ranging from attractions and restaurants to hotels and shops.
This is your chance to nominate your favorite restaurant, place to grab a drink, event, attraction, shopping experience, photo op and more! There are three different categories for voting: 1) Best in Class Awards 2) Hospitality Industry Awards and 3) Susan L. Hamo Hospitality Person of the Year Award.
The Best in Class Awards are open for everyone to cast their ballots, whether or not they are part of the hospitality and tourism industry. There are seven award classes to nominate a candidate. Every vote counts! Winners are selected by popular vote.
The Hospitality Industry Awards are meant to be voted on by those working within the hospitality and tourism industry. This category features awards for partnerships, service, rookie of the year, and social media campaigns, to name a few.
In 2012, to honor the memory of our colleague and friend, the ASCVB’s Hospitality Person of the Year Award was renamed the Susan L. Hamo Hospitality Person of the Year Award. This award honors an individual who demonstrates passion, unwavering commitment and exceptional dedication to the tourism industry. Nominations for this award are also meant to come from those within the industry.
“The Zenith Awards is our opportunity to honor our valued friends and partners,” said Gregg Mervis, president and CEO of the ASCVB. “The experiences they provide make our community engaging, diverse and authentic. All these factors contribute to the thriving hospitality ecosystem in Summit County.”
How large is this thriving ecosystem? According to a Tourism Economics report, direct visitor spending in Summit County totaled $1.7 billion in 2023, a 5.9% increase from 2022’s data of $1.57 billion. Visitor activity sustained 14,929 direct jobs and another 6,220 indirect and induced jobs in Summit County. The total number of jobs supported by visitor spending accounts for 5.8% of all jobs within the county.
Voting forms are available on the ASCVB website at visitakron-summit.org/zenith-awards/. The deadline to cast your votes is 11:59 pm on April 11, 2025. For more information on the Zenith Awards, contact Stephanie Berry, VP of Marketing and Brand Management, at sberry@visitakron-summit.org.
About the Akron/Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau:
The Akron/Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau (ASCVB), established in 1973, is the official destination marketing organization for Summit County, Ohio. Dedicated to promoting the region as a premier travel destination, the ASCVB works collaboratively with industry partners, stakeholders and the community to showcase Summit County's natural beauty, cultural attractions and unique experiences.