From staff reports
The Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry & Tourism has announced the winners of its third annual Oil Region tourism awards.
The winners are:
Best Dish: Breakfast sandwich at Woods & River Coffee, Oil City
Best Room: Wildcat Mansion, Franklin
Best Shop: Cross & Co. Boutique, Seneca
Best Advocate: Jodi Baker Lewis, Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce executive director
Best Partner: Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce
Best Must See/Do Attraction: Barrow-Civic Theatre, Franklin
Best Landmark: Drake Well Museum & Park, Titusville
Cross & Co. Boutique in Seneca won for best shop in 2021 and again this year, and Drake Well won for best landmark in 2021 and this year, making them the first repeat winners in the history of the contest.
Winners from the 2022 contest weren’t eligible to be nominated this year in the same category.
As the designated tourism marketing organization for Venango County and the manager of the Oil Region National Heritage Area (ORNHA), the ORA facilitates the contest every year.
Nominees and winners must be within the ORNHA, which includes all of Venango County, plus Titusville, Oil Creek Township and Hydetown in Crawford County.
There are no cash prizes for the winners, but nominees and winners are promoted through the ORA’s social media and other marketing efforts.
More than 700 people voted in this year’s contest.
“This contest is really taking off,” said Emily Altomare, communications and tourism manager for the ORA. “We had more nominations than ever before, and it was exciting to see so many first-time nominees.”
A celebration for the winners is being planned, and each winner will receive a certificate and sign to post in their business.
