Shelbyville, Ky. (Nov. 2024) — The work of ShelbyKY Tourism is recognized with two Gold Traverse Awards and one Award of Distinction, which is presented in only seven divisions, during the annual Kentucky Travel Industry Association conference. KTIA reports that a record-breaking 200-plus entries were received this year. The awards are judged by a panel of out-of-state travel and tourism industry experts.
ShelbyKY Tourism received the following awards:
- The coveted Award of Distinction for Multi-Jurisdictional Project for the Kentucky Black Trailblazers project. Developed by ShelbyKY Tourism President & CEO Janette Marson, the Kentucky Black Trailblazers is a transformative, first-of-its-kind experience that celebrates the influential Black figures who shaped the history of the Commonwealth and beyond. Two years of work went into creating the Kentucky Black Trailblazers experience, which includes 19 stops where users hear and see, via Augmented Reality, the stories of Muhammad Ali, Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Oliver Lewis, Civil Rights Leader Whitney M. Young, Jr., and more.
Marson adds, “We are thrilled with the recognition for Kentucky Black Trailblazers’ excellence among the 30+ other multi-jurisdiction projects launched in KY in the last year. More than 200 people created the Kentucky Black Trailblazers including six tourism agencies in partnership - ShelbyKY, Louisville, Oldham County, Bardstown, Elizabethtown, and Shepherdsville-Bullitt County.”
The Kentucky Black Trailblazers also received a Gold Traverse Award for Multi-Jurisdictional Project in the ARPA Funded Projects category.- ShelbyKY Tourism’s newly redesigned website (https://www.visitshelbyky.com) received a Gold Traverse Award. The website was the only one created by a single/standalone tourism bureau to receive a Gold Award this year. ShelbyKY Tourism Marketing & Public Relations Director Mason Warren led the redesign of the website which includes things to do, events, food & drink, places to stay, information to stay, and a robust blog.
ShelbyKY Tourism is also part of the Horses, Horsepower & Hollers tourism initiative, which received a Bronze Traverse Award from KTIA. ShelbyKY Tourism is a member of KTIA, which serves the interests of Kentucky’s travel industry. The approximately 900 organization and individual members include convention & visitor bureaus/tourist commissions, attractions, hotels, restaurants, marinas, industry suppliers, state government agencies, universities, media, and others.
About ShelbyKY — ShelbyKY (Shelbyville, Simpsonville and Shelby County) is Your Bourbon Destination®. Home to two distilleries — Bulleit Distillery and Jeptha Creed Distillery — ShelbyKY offers an array of bourbon-centric lodging, shopping and dining. ShelbyKY is perfectly positioned for easy access to Louisville, Lexington, and Northern Kentucky. Pair dining at classic favorites like Claudia Sanders Restaurant and local staple Bell House Restaurant with Kentucky’s only designer outlet mall, and there’s much to see, do, and taste in ShelbyKY. Home to 90-plus Saddlebred horse farms, ShelbyKY offers a rare peek into the world of the Saddlebred show horse and is known as the Saddlebred Horse Capital of the World. Outdoor adventures await those who enjoy fishing, canoeing, horseback riding, and golf. We invite you to follow @visit_shelbyky on Instagram and @visitshelbyky on Facebook and learn more about ShelbyKY at www.visitshelbyky.com.
###
Media contact: Debra Locker – debra@lockerpr.com / 859.536.0282
