Basswood Lodge Honored with 2026 Tourism Excellence Award for Best Destination Marketing

Basswood Lodge Honored with 2026 Tourism Excellence Award for Best Destination Marketing 

CANTON, NY — The St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce Tourism Team honors Basswood Lodge of Rensselaer Falls, recipient of the 2026 Tourism Excellence Award for Best Destination Marketing. 

Presented annually at the St. Lawrence County Tourism Dinner, the award recognizes tourism partners whose marketing efforts extend beyond promoting their own business and contribute to the visibility, visitation, and economic vitality of St. Lawrence County. 

For nearly three decades, Basswood Lodge has introduced outdoor enthusiasts to St. Lawrence County through guided hunting experiences and a commitment to North Country traditions. Known for its early goose season, fall and winter waterfowl hunting, and spring turkey opportunities, the business has become one of the Northeast's premier outdoor recreation destinations.

Since taking ownership in 2012, owner Nick McNamara has expanded Basswood Lodge's reach through national media exposure, television appearances, trade shows, digital marketing, and conservation partnerships. Through features in publications including Gun Dog Magazine and Wildfowl Magazine, collaborations with the nationally televised outdoor hunting program The Fowl Life, and participation in major outdoor industry events, Basswood has consistently introduced new audiences to St. Lawrence County while attracting visitors to the region through its hunting experiences, events, and outdoor programming.

Those connections extend far beyond the lodge itself. Visitors introduced to St. Lawrence County through Basswood support local businesses throughout the region and, in some cases, become long-term investors in the North Country, strengthening communities and contributing to the region's economy long after their first visit.

"This is what tourism looks like at its best," said Kathryn Puleo, Destination Manager for Visit St. Lawrence County. "Basswood has spent years connecting a targeted audience with the outdoor experiences and lifestyles that define the North Country. We've seen visitors return year after year, with some eventually purchasing camps, waterfront homes, and recreational properties throughout St. Lawrence County after first being introduced to the region through Basswood. That's the kind of long-term impact every destination hopes to create."

McNamara was unable to attend the Tourism Dinner due to a prior commitment. The award was accepted on his behalf by his wife, Mandi McNamara, and daughters, Cyera and Brielle McNamara.

For more information about tourism opportunities throughout St. Lawrence County, visit www.VisitSTLC.com.