Local tourism organization also receives two Traverse Awards for Excellence at Kentucky Travel Industry Association Fall Conference
SOMERSET, KENTUCKY (November 13, 2025) — On the heels of winning two Traverse Awards for Excellence in Kentucky Tourism during the annual Kentucky Travel Industry Association (KTIA) Fall Conference Nov. 5–7, Lake Cumberland Tourism Executive Director Michelle Allen was elected to serve as secretary of KTIA’s board of directors.
Allen has served as an at-large member of the KTIA board for the past three years. She said she is honored to take on a leadership role that allows her to continue representing Somerset-Pulaski County and the southern Kentucky region at the state level.
“Kentucky’s tourism industry is full of passionate professionals who understand how vital our work is to the state’s economy and quality of life,” Allen said. “To be elected by my peers to serve as secretary of KTIA’s board of directors is both humbling and exciting. I look forward to helping guide our industry’s future while continuing to share the story of Somerset-Pulaski County and the many destinations that make Kentucky so special.”
A graduate of Eastern Kentucky University with a bachelor’s degree in broadcasting and communications, Allen earned her Tourism Marketing Professional certification from the Southeast Tourism Society’s Marketing College at the University of North Georgia in 2005.
Her career in tourism began with Tour Southern and Eastern Kentucky, where she led marketing and economic education initiatives across 47 counties. Today, she also serves as vice president of the Kentucky Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus board of directors, chair of the Southern Kentucky Vacations region, and vice chair of both the Somerset-Pulaski Economic Development Authority (SPEDA) and the Dream Big Burnside Authority boards. Allen is also a certified KTIA Kentucky Tourism Professional.
KTIA President and CEO Hank Phillips said the association’s effectiveness is a reflection of the quality of its volunteer leadership.
“KTIA has enjoyed a long tradition of excellent volunteer leaders and those serving in 2026 certainly will continue that tradition,” Phillips said.
The day before Allen’s election, Lake Cumberland Tourism received bronze and silver Traverse Awards recognizing excellence in tourism marketing. The winning projects were:
Silver Award — Video or Podcast — Real Life, Unsalted™ Promotional Video
Produced by Hutch Digital and released in March, this video showcases the Somerset-Pulaski County vacation experience through the lens of Lake Cumberland Tourism’s signature Real Life, Unsalted™ campaign. Featuring the song “Sunshine Daydream,” written and performed by Somerset singer-songwriter Cody Lee Meece, the piece highlights authentic, on- and off-the-water experiences and reflects the organization’s commitment to promoting local music, arts, and entertainment.
Bronze Award — ARPA-Funded Projects — Lake Cumberland Wayfinding System
Involving seven tourism organizations from Lake Cumberland’s five surrounding counties and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, this first-of-its-kind wayfinding signage system spans all 101 miles of Lake Cumberland. The project includes 75 signs and 20 informational kiosks, helping visitors navigate to coves, tributaries, and marinas across the region.
Entries for the Traverse Awards are judged by an independent panel of out-of-state tourism industry professionals, with evaluation criteria including concept, creativity, results, and impact. This year’s competition drew more than 200 submissions, making it Kentucky’s largest and most prestigious tourism marketing contest.
KTIA represents various segments of Kentucky’s tourism industry, which contributes over $14 billion to the state’s economy. The 1,000-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.
Representatives from Lake Cumberland Tourism, See Somerset Tourism and Lake Cumberland Tourist Commission celebrate Traverse Awards received at the KTIA Fall Conference Nov. 5-7.