The Vail Valley Partnership has been named a finalist for the 2024 Chamber of the Year award, presented by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). ACCE is an association based in Alexandria, Va., with over 1,600 chambers of commerce and related business and economic development organizations as members, representing more than 9,000 professionals in the industry.

The award, sponsored by GrowthZone, is the most prestigious and competitive recognition presented annually by ACCE. It recognizes the leadership role chambers of commerce have in their communities. Those honored with the Chamber of the Year designation have demonstrated organizational strength and impacted key community priorities, such as education, transportation, economic prosperity and quality of life.

"This year's finalists represent the best in the chamber industry," said Sheree Anne Kelly, ACCE president & CEO. "They are community leaders and innovators, driving growth and regional prosperity. We congratulate them on this outstanding achievement."

Chamber of the Year winners will be announced on Wednesday, July 17, during the Awards Show at ACCE’s Annual Convention in Dallas, Texas.  

“On behalf of the Vail Valley Partnership’s board, we could not be prouder. The VVP and its excellent staff are not merely satisfied to be a provider of information to the Eagle County business community; we strive to make a meaningful difference in advocating for the needs of our businesses, managers, and employees.  We are honored to be considered as a finalist for Chamber of the Year, and we view it as confirmation of the daily dedication and hard work by Chris Romer and our entire team,” said Michael Brown, Regional President at Alpine Bank and Partnership board chair.

Chambers of commerce interested in competing for the award first must qualify by participating in a vigorous multi-stage process. Organizations entering the Chamber of the Year competition must meet minimum thresholds in at least three of five key performance areas in ACCE’s Annual Chamber Operations Survey, including net revenue and assets, membership account retention and membership dollar retention.

Qualifying chambers enter the competition with a written application addressing all organizational operation and programmatic work aspects. Applications are scored by peer chamber executives to determine finalists. Winners are selected from among finalists based on an interview before a panel of experienced chamber professionals.

To ensure the fairest competition, applicants are grouped into four categories based on annual revenue, membership, area population and other factors.

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About the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives

Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) is the professional society supporting the women and men who lead local, regional, statewide and international chambers of commerce and related business and economic development organizations. Our membership includes more than 1,600 business/civic organizations worldwide. We provide our members with information resources, thought leadership, education programs, original research, benchmarking, retirement security, and access to a network of peers.

About Vail Valley Partnership

Vail Valley Partnership is a 501(c) (6) nonprofit organization that serves as the Chamber and destination marketing organization for Eagle County, Colorado and the Vail Valley. Dedicated to community success, the Partnership leads collaboration for economic vitality. Vail Valley Partnership is the official resource and advocate for business and tourism in the Vail Valley with over 750 members and was named “Chamber of the Year” by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives in 2016 and 2020.

About the award sponsor GrowthZone 

GrowthZone is association software that helps organizations grow and retain membership, engage and inform members and prospects, and streamline tedious tasks. It unlocks the full potential of member-based organizations and seamlessly integrates with core processes, providing the foundation for an organization’s strategy. Learn more about GrowthZone at https://www.growthzone.com/.