It seems the secret is out about Northwest Arkansas. Our corner of the state has become a regular part of the national news cycle, and for good reason. The region was recently ranked among the top places to live by U.S. News & World Report. And Bentonville was recognized as one of the best places to visit in 2016 by Outside Magazine; selected as the mountain biking capital of Arkansas by Singletracks; and featured in The New York Times for its restaurants, breweries, bike shops and museums.

As we see story after story highlight our home region, it has become apparent that Northwest Arkansas is a destination. Just this week, leaders gathered in Springdale for the Governor’s Conference on Tourism to brainstorm ideas that continue to build the tourism industry in the state. We were proud to see many of our partners recognized for their contributions to the industry in 2015 – like the Razorback Regional Greenway receiving the Natural State Award.

Personally, one of the most exciting moments of the conference was seeing Tom Walton, one of the visionaries behind the foundation’s Home Region Program, receive the Tourism Person of the Year Award.

Tom shared many poignant thoughts with those gathered at the event. One that stuck with me was his observation on how unexpected it was to receive a tourism award for work designed to improve the quality of life of those who live here. What Tom and many of us have discovered is that by creating a great place for locals, we have made a destination for visitors.

There’s a movement happening in Northwest Arkansas and others are noticing. Our region is known for economic opportunity, but we are starting to see a shift – people are drawn here because of the lifestyle and culture, and not only for a career. We should all be proud of being part of that movement.