National bus group names Corn Palace Festival a top event

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The American Bus Association has named the Corn Palace Festival one of the top events for group travel in 2013 in its annual “Top 100 Events” publication.

The Mitchell Convention and Visitors Bureau, an ABA member, nominated the event.

“This is a great award for a great event, and is a fantastic spotlight for the Corn Palace, the festival and for Mitchell,” said CVB Director Jacki Miskimins. “Bus travel is a core component of Mitchell tourism, and this award speaks directly to group travel planners. On top of that, the publication listing also mentioned our other Mitchell attractions — money can’t buy that kind of exposure.”

Mark Schilling, Corn Palace director, is also very pleased.

“It’s quite an honor being selected,” he said.

“We’re very proud of the tradition we have with the Corn Palace Festival dating back to 1892.”

The American Bus Association is a trade organization representing the intercity bus industry. Its annual compendium “Top 100 Events in North America” features the best events for group travel in the United States and Canada.

Events are chosen by a panel of member bus and tour operators, and winners are published in a special supplement to Destinations, ABA’s magazine.

According to CVB records, Mitchell has received more than 180 tour buses each year for the past four years.

In 2011, there were more than 200.

The Mitchell CVB will be representing Mitchell as a group travel destination at the ABA’s annual conference Jan. 5-9, 2013.

The 2013 Corn Palace Festival will be held Aug. 21-25. The Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup Arts Festival, held Sept. 28-30 in Custer, is the only other South Dakota event selected for the award.

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