Maine Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Heather Johnson (left) and Maine Office of Tourism Director Steve Lyons present the Governors Award for Tourism Excellence to Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens President and CEO Gretchen Ostherr, and (Photo courtesy Coastla Maine Botanical Gardens)
Maine Office of Tourism announced its Maine Tourism Awards on Thursday, April 25 in Portland, presenting the Governor’s Award for Tourism Excellence to Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in recognition of their exemplary contributions to the industry.
The gardens received this accolade alongside Oriental Jade (Innovation & Creativity Award), The Craignair Inn by the Sea (Leadership & Growth Award), Wayne Davis of TrainRiders NorthEast (WelcomeME), and Appalachian Mountain Club Maine Woods Initiative (Stewardship).
“Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens combines so many of the attributes people seek in Maine — nature, the arts, and a place to pause and appreciate life,” said Steve Lyons, director of the Maine Office of Tourism. “Their introduction of shoulder-season events, expansions of the gardens, and commitment to showcasing Maine-made products all benefit the surrounding community and the state overall.”
“When the gardens opened in 2007, the founders never imagined we’d serve more than 300,000 visitors a year,” said Gretchen Ostherr, gardens president and CEO. “The Governor’s Award honors our founders’ dedication and the hard work and vision of all the staff and volunteers who have helped to make this place what it is. Thank you to the Maine Office of Tourism, our generous community members and supporters, and the vital partners that have invested in the Gardens’ success. We look forward to welcoming you back this spring.”
The Governor’s Award follows the prestigious Top 10 North American Gardens Worth Traveling For Award presented to Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, and nine other leading gardens, at the November International Garden Tourism Conference.
Gardens were selected based on efforts to cultivate and showcase garden experiences as compelling tourism destinations and catalysts to travel. Recipients were selected by a jury of Garden Tourism leaders, supported and endorsed by the American Public Garden Association, the Canadian Garden Council, and the Mexican Association of Botanical Gardens.
“We love that through connecting people to plants and nature, we also have a positive impact on the Maine economy,” Ostherr said. “Being recognized for our work on a local, national, and international scale is incredibly humbling.”
Stepwise Data Research’s 2021 study revealed that Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens contributed $41.9 million to Maine’s economic growth during the year study. This includes more than $15.2 million in total earnings and 490 direct and indirect jobs.
Within Lincoln County alone, the gardens supported $24.5 million in business output, $8.8 million in total earnings, and 310 total jobs.
At over 325 acres, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is New England’s largest botanical garden. Home to thousands of different types of plants and visited by hundreds of thousands of guests each year, the gardens is an inclusive place of learning, beauty, and whimsy around every corner.
The mission of the gardens is to inspire meaningful connections among people, plants, and nature through horticulture, education, and research. For more information, go to mainegardens.org.
