The Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau received three Traverse Awards for Excellence in Tourism Marketing from the Kentucky Travel Industry Association. The awards were presented on Nov. 7 during the Traverse Gala Awards Dinner held at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington during the 2019 Kentucky Travel Industry Association’s Annual Conference.
The Bowling Green Area CVB received a Silver Award in the Digital Category for its “Go From 0-Fun” animated ads, and it received Bronze Awards in Print Advertising for its “Classic American Vacation” ad, and in PR for its “A Taste of Fall” press trip.
“We’re passionate about promoting Bowling Green and Warren County, and we appreciate being recognized by the Traverse Award judges,” said Sherry Murphy, executive director of the Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Tourism is vital to our local economy, and we work hard to showcase Bowling Green to potential visitors, meeting planners, and more.”
Two other Bowling Green businesses were honored with Traverse Awards. The Historic RailPark & Train Museum received a Silver Award for its Save the Depot Marketing Campaign.
The Courtyard by Marriott Bowling Green Convention Center won Silver Awards for Marketing Campaign for its Road Trip Radio promotions and PR Campaign for its SOKY Spring Break Staycation, which also received an Award of Distinction. The hotel also received a Bronze Award for its Renovation Reveal PR Campaign.
Kentucky travel and tourism businesses and marketing organizations vie for Traverse Awards in 16 categories during the annual competition. 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. More than 160 entries were submitted from throughout Kentucky for the 2019 competition.
According to KTIA President/CEO Hank Phillips, “This year’s judges were effusive in their praise of the Traverse submissions. The judges were in full agreement that Kentucky’s travel and tourism industry includes some of the most creative and effective marketing professionals to be found in any state and in any industry. It is that creativity and marketing that has resulted in tourism becoming one of Kentucky’s premier economic drivers benefiting Kentuckians in all 120 counties of the Commonwealth. Traverse awards are much sought after and are prestigious acknowledgements of success within this highly skilled industry.”
The Kentucky Travel Industry Association represents and serves all segments of Kentucky’s more than $11 billion tourism industry. The industry supports 94,500 Kentucky jobs and generates $787 million in local and state tax revenue. 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.