St. Lawrence County Tourism Dinner to honor North Country businesses

OGDENSBURG, N.Y. — The 2025 St. Lawrence County (STLC) Tourism Dinner, set for Wednesday June 4, will present STLC Tourism Excellence Awards to two tourism champions that continue to elevate visitor experiences and destination development across the county, the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce announced. The Best Western University Inn in Canton will receive the “Best to the Guest” Tourism Excellence award, which recognizes a business or organization that shows commitment to an excellent guest experience, customer service, unique offerings, and attention to detail. Owned by St. Lawrence University, the hotel provides lodgings with a full hospitality experience, per the announcement. From business meetings and holiday events to dining at The County Seat, as well as offering access to nearby trails and golfing, the hotel caters to a wide range of guests. The Best Western also actively supports local programs and promotes tourism by providing visitors with curated recommendations. The Seaway Visitor Center at Eisenhower Lock in Massena will receive the Best Destination Marketing Initiative award, which honors outstanding tourism-marketing efforts that raise awareness and attract visitors to St. Lawrence County, the chamber of commerce said. The center made exceptional use of community partnerships and local resources during its recent reopening campaign, standing as a model for how impactful destination marketing can be achieved with limited resources and strategic planning. By creatively leveraging no-cost opportunities, media leads, and collaborative support from regional partners, the center successfully reignited public interest and transformed the reopening into a county-wide tourism success story. “Tourism in St. Lawrence County isn’t just about places to visit and things to do,” STLC Chamber Destination Manager Kathryn Puleo said in the announcement. “It’s about the people who work together to make St. Lawrence County a welcoming rural destination. Our award recipients are shining examples of what it takes to translate pride and purpose into exceptional guest experiences that impact the entire North Country region.” The STLC Tourism Dinner begins at 5 p.m. on June 4, with networking and a buffet catered by The Freight House, at 20 Market St. in Ogdensburg. The event is open to community members, business leaders, and tourism partners. More information is available at the chamber’s web page for the dinner.