Rapid City, SD – Travel South Dakota announced its 2026 Great Place and Great Face honorees, recognizing a total of 34 tourism businesses and 54 hospitality workers across the state for delivering exceptional visitor experiences.

Great Place awards spotlight Black Hills attractions

The Great Place list includes a mix of well‑known and hidden‑gem destinations throughout western South Dakota. In Rapid City, honorees feature local favorites such as Black Hills Adventure Tours, Black Hills Caverns, the Black Hills Visitor Information Center, Elevation Inn & Suites, and Reptile Gardens. Outside the city, the list highlights Fort Welikit Campground in Custer, The Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, and the historic Big Thunder Gold Mine in Keystone.

Great Face honors celebrate hospitality workers

Travel South Dakota also recognized 54 individuals as Great Faces for their dedication to customer service. Recipients include employees from the same Rapid City attractions listed above, as well as staff at Rush Mountain Adventure Park, Rushmore Cave, and Sprockets Fun Foundry in Keystone. Lois Peterson, executive director of the Black Hills and Badlands Tourism Association, received a special acknowledgment for her leadership in promoting the region.

State officials praise the awards

Governor Larry Rhoden and Tourism Secretary James Hagen praised the awards, noting that South Dakota’s tourism industry thrives on both world‑class attractions and the people who welcome travelers. “Our state’s tourism success depends on the quality of the experiences we provide and the warm hospitality of our workers,” the governor said.

The South Dakota Department of Tourism explained that the Great Place and Great Face programs aim to highlight businesses and employees who go above and beyond to create positive memories for visitors, thereby strengthening the state’s reputation as a premier travel destination.

Looking ahead to 2027

Applications for the 2027 Great Place and Great Face programs are expected to open in March, inviting more businesses and individuals to compete for recognition. The awards serve as a valuable marketing tool, helping honorees attract new guests and reinforcing the importance of hospitality excellence throughout the Black Hills and the wider state.

For more information on the award program or to submit an application, visit the Travel South Dakota website.

Original reporting: KOTA (Gray) – local — read the source article.