Hammond Recognized by Travel Industry Association

Mary Hammond, Executive Director of the Paducah Convention & Visitors Bureau, was the recipient of this year's Mangeot-Oaken Award at the Kentucky Travel Industry Association annual conference in Covington earlier this month.

The award is the highest honor given by Kentucky's travel industry. 

"Mary is as unique and special as the community she promotes to the world. Her enthusiastic leadership and creativity over many years have put Paducah on the national and international travel destination map," said Hank Phillips, President/CEO of KTIA.

"The Mangeot-Oaken Award honors a career of achievement in Kentucky's tourism industry, and Mary exemplifies the very best of what the award represents."

Hammond joins a long line of past recipients who have dedicated their professional careers to developing, promoting, and protecting Kentucky's tourism industry. 

"Upon receiving this award, Mary proclaimed that tourism is not a job but rather a lifestyle," said Vick Patel, Chairman of the Paducah CVB Board of Directors. "In making the promotion of Paducah her life's work at the CVB, she has consistently displayed dedication, professionalism and creative vision to the benefit of the industry, the community and the region."

KTIA also recognized the Paducah CVB's destination marketing efforts with three 2019 Traverse Awards, a Silver Award for the Paducah.travel Blog and Bronze Awards for Planner Services Cards (Meetings and Sports) and for Strategic PR during Top Chef Kentucky.