The Historic RailPark and Train Museum, National Corvette Museum, City of Bowling Green and Bowling Green Area Convention and Visitors Bureau received Traverse Awards for Excellence in Tourism Marketing from the Kentucky Travel Industry Association. The awards were presented during the 2022 Kentucky Travel Industry Annual Conference held November 9-11 at the Griffin Gate Marriott Resort & Spa in Lexington, KY.
The Historic RailPark and Train Museum competes in the attractions, festivals and events category. They received two Silver Traverse Awards in the categories of radio/TV broadcast advertising (Haunted Lantern Tours) and video (2022 Campaign Video - Step Right Up). They also received one Bronze Traverse Award in the category of print advertising/print collateral (Step Right Up Donor Card). “Our passion and excitement for our mission is what drives us to work hard every day,” said Jamie Johnson, Executive Director of the Historic RailPark and Train Museum. “The recognition from these awards is certainly a nice pat on the back. The awards are very competitive and makes us that much prouder of our accomplishments.”
Also entering and competing in the attractions, festivals and events category, the National Corvette Museum received two Gold Traverse Awards in the category of digital (Corvette Powered Digital Ads & Hot Wheels: Race to Win Digital Ads). They received one Silver Traverse Award in the category of video (Hot Wheels: Race to Win Exhibit). They also received one Bronze Traverse Award in the category of marketing campaign (Hot Wheels: Race to Win). "The National Corvette Museum is very grateful to the Kentucky Travel Industry Association for granting us these awards and it would not be possible without the support of our staff, members, donors, sponsors, partners, and more,” said Mariah Hughes, Media Relations and Marketing Production Manager at the National Corvette Museum. “We would love to invite the community to come and see all of the efforts that we have put into the Museum to ensure that the guests have the best possible experience."
In Category I, with a total annual budget of less than $400k, the City of Bowling Green received one Gold Traverse Award, two Silver Traverse Awards and one Bronze Traverse Award in the categories of experience development, PR initiative and radio or TV broadcast advertising for the Fountain Row Launch. “The City supports the tourism and hospitality industry and proudly began Downtown Development destination marketing efforts with the Fountain Row Launch over the past year,” said Telia Butler, Downtown Development Coordinator. “We look forward to growing our tourism and economic development efforts with Downtown BGKY partners.”
The Bowling Green Area Convention and Visitors Bureau competes in the DMO category with a total annual budget of more than $750k. They received five Bronze Traverse Awards in the categories of Digital (Ready for a Road Trip), Print Advertising (BG Challenge Card & Great American Road Trip) and PR Initiative (Underrated Road Trip Destination and BGKY is a Halloween Destination). “Bowling Green/Warren County were prominent in attendance and award-winners at this year’s Kentucky Travel Industry Association Conference. We are so proud of our tourism partners and their efforts,” said Sherry Murphy, Executive Director of the Bowling Green Area CVB. “Tourism is vital to our local economy, and we all work hard to showcase Bowling Green to potential visitors, meeting planners, and more.”
Kentucky travel and tourism businesses and marketing organizations vie for Traverse Awards in 11 categories. The Traverse Awards are judged by a panel of out-of-state travel and tourism industry experts. Award criteria include concept, creativity, results and impact.
The Kentucky Travel Industry Association represents and serves all segments of Kentucky’s tourism industry. The 900-member association engages in advocacy and provides its members with education, information and business development opportunities. The association also works to inform the public of the enormous economic, employment and tax revenue contributions tourism makes to the people of Kentucky.
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