The public cast a record-breaking 24,576 votes in this year’s Omaha Metropolitan Area Tourism Awards, recognizing the best tourism businesses in Douglas, Sarpy and Pottawattamie counties. Votes determined winners in four categories: Best Hotel, Best Restaurant, Best Attraction and Best Retail Business. The winners and runners-up for 2024 are:
Douglas County
Best Attraction:
- Winner: Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium
- Runners-up: Kiewit Luminarium and Boys Town
Best Hotel:
- Winner: The Farnam, Autograph Collection
- Runners-up: Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel and Moxy Omaha Downtown
Best Restaurant:
- Winner: Greek Islands Restaurant
- Runners-up: Yoshitomo and V. Mertz
Best Retail:
- Winner: Made in Omaha
- Runners-up: Prairie in Bloom and Nouvelle Eve
Sarpy County
Best Attraction:
- Winner: Schramm State Park Education Center
- Runners-up: Sarpy County Fair Grounds and Gifford Farms
Best Hotel:
- Winner: Embassy Suites by Hilton La Vista
- Runners-up: Courtyard by Marriott La Vista and Hampton Inn & Suites La Vista
Best Restaurant:
- Winner: Sweet Rice Thai Food Express
- Runners-up: Good Life Sports Bar & Grill-Gretna and Luigi’s Italian Restaurant
Best Retail:
- Winner: Main Street Decor and More
- Runners-up: Robin’s Nest and Town & Country Floral
Pottawattamie County
Best Attraction:
- Winner: Mt. Crescent Ski Area
- Runners-up: Phoenix Movie Theater and Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center
Best Hotel:
- Winner: Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites @ Ameristar
- Runners-up: Hilton Garden Inn and SpringHill Suites
Best Restaurant:
- Winner: Pizza King
- Runners-up: The Buck Snort Neola and Minden Bowl Cafe
Best Retail:
- Winner: The Unique Boutique Iowa
- Runners-up: Bev’s Porch and The Olive Branch
The Tourism Awards are presented in partnership with the Council Bluffs Convention & Visitors Bureau, Sarpy County Tourism and Visit Omaha.