The Sports Events and Tourism Association presented the Destination Branding & Marketing Campaign of the Year award to Catch Des Moines during the association’s annual 4S & Rights Holder Summit on Oct. 25. The award is given to a destination member of Sports ETA with the most outstanding comprehensive marketing campaign for its organization between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, according to a press release. “This award is a testament to the efforts of our sports, sales and servicing teams to consistently bring in marquee sporting events, and for our community for showing up and supporting them loud and proud,” Ben Handfelt, director of creative and communications at Catch Des Moines, said in a prepared statement. “We do things differently in Des Moines, and our marketing reflects that. And to win this award against some much larger cities plays right into our underdog narrative.” Des Moines has hosted several sporting events in 2023, including the return of March Madness and the AAU Junior Olympic Games, as well as stops by the Savannah Bananas and RAGBRAI.