The designation was awarded by the American Bus Association, an influential voice in the tour bus industry. The Claremore event was selected from more than 500 applications.

“It’s a major designation for us here in Oklahoma,” said Steve Gragert, director of the Will Rogers Memorial Museums in Claremore. “We should see a greater number of motor coach tours coming through here at least around Will Rogers Days and maybe the whole year.”

The annual event celebrates the birthday of Oklahoma humorist, entertainer and cultural powerhouse Will Rogers, who died with Wiley Post in a 1935 plane crash in Alaska. The 75th anniversary of Will Rogers Days will be Nov. 1-4, 2013.

The celebration will be listed with the bus association’s other top events in a supplement to the September/October issue of Destinations magazine. The association’s list, which began decades ago as a way for motor coach operators to identify new destinations, has grown into an industry leader, pointing the way to itineraries that provide quality entertainment to groups and individuals.

“The attractiveness of Will Rogers Days as a ‘don’t miss’ entertainment value is only part of why its selection this year is such a distinction for Claremore,” said Peter J. Pantuso, the association president and CEO, in a news release.

“The real news here is that Will Rogers Days has been recognized as a potential magnet for tourism dollars at a time when re-energizing domestic tourism is so important to our spirit and our economy. The honor gives Claremore an important boost in visibility among professional tour planners.”

The news release suggests that one overnight stay by a bus tour group can bring $5,000 to $11,000 into the local economy.

While that’s significant, Gragert hopes those who visit take home with them something even more valuable: an appreciation for Rogers’ unparalleled contributions to society.