Oak Grove Tourism and its staff received a Destination Management Traverse Award for Excellence in Kentucky Tourism from the Kentucky Travel Industry Association (KTIA) last week, at the 2024 KTIA Annual Conference held in Covington’s Northern Kentucky Convention Center.
The nod, a Bronze Traverse for the annual Butterfly Festival, is another for the popular celebration — which has only grown in size since its inception more than a decade ago.
Traci Cunningham, Oak Grove’s executive director, said the recognition reflects hard work, passion and dedication from everyone involved, and that this particular festival has become a “significant driver” for Oak Grove’s economy — since it draws visitors not only from western Kentucky and northwest Tennessee, but from beyond.
Each year, Kentucky’s travel and tourism businesses and marketing organizations vie for Traverse Awards in 11 specific categories, and an out-of-state panel filled with tourism industry experts make the final calls.
Concept, creativity, results and impact are award criteria.
Hank Phillips, KTIA president & CEO, said there were more than 220 award entries this year, with quality and creativity a big plus this past calendar.
The KTIA legally represents all segments of the state’s tourism industry, which last year contributed nearly $14 billion to the Commonwealth’s economy. Nearly 1,000 members strong, its members use the organization to gain education, information and business development opportunities, and then relay this material back to their communities.
