Pikeville-Pike County Tourism CVB was one of a select group of Kentucky State CVBs that were honored by the Kentucky Travel Industry Association (KTIA) with five Marketing Excellence Awards. The awards, according to a statement from Pike Tourism CVB, were presented at the 2022 Kentucky Travel Industry Annual Conference held Nov. 9-11 at the Griffin Gate Marriott Golf Resort and Spa in Lexington.

These awards recognized the digital and print marketing efforts of the Pikeville-Pike County Tourism CVB, the TourPikeCounty.com website, as well as the Pike County Rally Car Experiences the CVB has hosted over the past few years.

Perhaps the most notable award is for Pikeville-Pike County Tourism’s collaboration with Mountain Grrl Experience, as the event was honored with a Bronze Award for Experience Development.

“The Mountain Grrl experience would not have been possible without the help and support of Pikeville-Pike County Tourism. We are grateful for our partnership with our friends at this office whose purpose, like ours, is to uplift and celebrate Appalachia and its people,” said Kris Preston, co-founder of Mountain Grrl Experience. “We also appreciate our partnership with the amazing staff at the Appalachian Arts Center, especially graphic designer Jen Yonts who created our logo and much of our marketing material. Local photographers Dusty Layne and Larry Epling and videographer Jeremy Justice helped capture the beauty and essence of the event.

Including these awards, Pikeville-Pike County Tourism CVB has been honored with more than 60 crossing awards over the past decade for its marketing excellence and work to help grow tourism in Eastern Kentucky.

“We are constantly growing and evolving as a tourism board,” said Tony K. Tackett, executive director of Pikeville-Pike County Tourism CVB. “It’s an ever-evolving business, and we’re always striving to think outside the box and find new ways to connect with visitors and group travellers. We appreciate the Kentucky Travel Industry Association and our local and state tourism partners for all of their support.

“These awards aren’t for bragging or ‘honking’ so to speak,” said Jay Shepherd, Marketing Director of Pikeville-Pike County Tourism CVB. “We think it’s important to remind everyone that we, along with our state allies in tourism, our local government officials, and our community partners, are working hard to promote our beautiful region, grow our local economy, and bring visitors to Eastern Kentucky. Sometimes our locals forget that our area is making a splash in the Kentucky tourism scene, and there are people working hard to achieve those goals.

“We are so grateful to the Kentucky Travel Industry Association for recognizing the work of our office and those who work with us in making Pikeville-Pike County the wonderful tourist destination it has become,” said Judi Conway. Patton, Pikeville-Pike County Tourism. CVB chair.

According to KTIA President and CEO, Hank Phillips, “This year’s Traverse Awards was marked by feedback from our judges on the exceptional quality of the entries. As tourism in Kentucky continues to recover, it is evident that the industry is stepping up its creative and results-driven strategies to capture the attention of potential visitors and, ultimately, their decisions to visit the Commonwealth. These awards are a testament to the expertise of Kentucky’s tourism professionals and reflect why tourism remains a major driver of Kentucky’s economy. »