The cameras have rolled, the energy is high, and the moment we’ve all been waiting for is finally here—it's time to reveal the 2025 OMA Tourism Award Winners!
Throughout National Travel & Tourism Week (May 4–10), we’ll be highlighting one winner each day with a video spotlight and featured story—giving you an inside look at the people, passion, and places that shape unforgettable experiences across the Omaha metro.
Follow along on our Facebook page and explore our detailed blog coverage to catch each announcement and get to know the people behind these award-winning businesses.
But first, let’s raise a virtual toast to this year’s winners!
2025 OMA Tourism Award Winners
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Best Attraction: Hitchcock Nature Center (Honey Creek)
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Best Hotel: Harrah’s Hotel & Casino
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Best Restaurant: Boxer Barbeque
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Best Retail Business: Bloom Works Floral
Each of these businesses is a shining example of what makes our region vibrant, welcoming, and worth celebrating.
Powered by the Public
These awards are built on community pride. Since 2021, locals and visitors have played a central role—nominating their favorite businesses and voting among the top five in each category. What began in 2017 as a celebration of tourism staff and partner agencies has since evolved into a full-on community tradition.
And participation? It's been off the charts. Since the public nomination format launched in 2021, involvement has skyrocketed—more than 6,000 votes in the first year, over 9,600 in 2022, 18,456 in 2023, and a record-setting 24,576 in 2024. That momentum has only added to the excitement surrounding the OMA Tourism Awards and the pride people feel for the businesses that make our region shine.
Special thanks to the Metropolitan Hospitality Association and the Pottawattamie Tourism Committee for their ongoing support in making this celebration possible.
A Regional Collaboration Worth Celebrating
The OMA Tourism Awards are a collaborative effort that recognizes outstanding tourism businesses across Pottawattamie and Douglas counties. We’re proud to partner with Visit Omaha to highlight the incredible attractions, shops, restaurants, and hotels that make our entire metro area a destination of choice for travelers and locals alike.
This award-winning partnership was recognized with the 2023 Outstanding Marketing Collaboration Award from the Iowa Tourism Office—proof of what’s possible when communities come together to share their stories.
Support our friends across the river by checking out the 2025 Douglas County winners as well—because celebrating tourism means celebrating the entire metro!
Behind the Scenes
Leading up to National Travel & Tourism Week, we visited each of this year’s winners to record video presentations that will be shared throughout the week. These visits were filled with genuine excitement, heartfelt gratitude, and a whole lot of smiles.
These video spotlights are more than just interviews—they’re a behind-the-scenes look at the teams who pour their hearts into their work, welcoming guests and creating memorable moments every single day. Starting tomorrow, you’ll meet each winner and see why the community came out in full force to celebrate them.
We’re just getting started—so stay tuned all week long as we shine a light on the standout businesses that make the Omaha metro such a special place to live, visit, and explore.
Let the celebration continue!
