ShelbyKY Tourism President & CEO Chenelle McGee to transition to role with Kentucky dept. of tourism.
SHELBYKY – Dec. 10, 2021 – A member of the ShelbyKY Tourism team since 2016, President & CEO. Chenelle McGee is moving to the Kentucky Department of Tourism. Effective Jan. 1, 2022, McGee will begin in the role of Travel Promotion Specialist Supervisor for KY Tourism. “While the Board and I will greatly miss working directly with Chenelle, we know she will do incredible things for tourism throughout Kentucky in her new position with the state,’ says ShelbyKY Tourism Board Chairman Ray Tucker. “From leading the tourism team through the opening of the Shelbyville Conference & Welcome Center, to navigating through the travel and business concerns that came with COVID-19, Chenelle will leave a lasting, positive impression on our community. I have really enjoyed working with her.”
Key milestones in McGee’s tenure include:
- Serving on the executive team responsible for the October opening of the Shelbyville Conference & Welcome Center. Operated by ShelbyKY Tourism, McGee led the relocation of the Bureau’s team - which recently doubled to six people - to working from offices in the Welcome Center.
- Receiving three Traverse awards for Excellence in Tourism Marketing from the Kentucky Travel Industry Association for 2020. One of those awards is for Shelby County’s new wayfinding program, which launched this summer. More than 100 redesigned signs in varying sizes were installed throughout the county with the purpose of connectivity. This program directs motorists from the highways to the downtown, rural areas, attractions, public parking, etc.
- Opening of Stargazer Plaza on Shelbyville’s Main Street. The operations of the Plaza are led by ShelbyKY Tourism.
- Opening of the Sculpture Walk, which includes seven art installations placed throughout downtown Shelbyville.
- Launching ShelbyKY Restaurant Week in 2020.
- Established Community-Based Tourism Committees which allows locals to participate in the development of ShelbyKY Tourism collaboratively with the board of directors.
- Creating the look and feel for the rebranding of ShelbyKY Tourism and launch of https://www.visitshelbyky.com/ in 2017.
“I am thrilled to be able to continue to promote ShelbyKY alongside the Commonwealth of Kentucky to international and domestic travelers,” says McGee, who will continue to live in Shelbyville. “Heading into 2022, ShelbyKY’s AirBnb and hotel properties are up, and restaurants although greatly affected by workforce issues are seeing recovery a reminiscent of pre-covid numbers. With the upcoming 6th street pedestrian walkway and new stores in Simpsonville, tourism will continue to be a significant economic driver for the county. The well-rounded ShelbyKY Tourism team and veteran tourism board will represent the community in the most positive light as travel and tourism continues to move forward.
Tucker adds that the application process for ShelbyKY Tourism’s President & CEO role will be available in the coming weeks.
About SHELBYKY - Shelbyville/Simpsonville/Shelby County, a community of small-town charm and world-class equestrian events, is the American Saddlebred Capital of the World. Home to 90-plus Saddlebred horse farms and breeding and training facilities, ShelbyKY gives visitors a rare peek into the world of the Saddlebred show horse. Attractions include Kentucky's only designer outlet mall, The Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass; the antique, home accessory and furniture shops comprising “Design Destination”; Jeptha Creed Distillery; Bulleit Distillery; Talon Winery; and the Shelby County Community Theatre. ShelbyKY's dining landscape includes culinary icons Science Hill Inn, Old Stone Inn and Claudia Sanders Dinner House; overnight choices range from brand-name chain hotels to downtown lofts; and outdoor adventures await those who enjoy fishing, canoeing, horseback riding and golf. We invite you to follow #VisitShelbyKY and www.facebook.com/VisitShelbyKY.
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