The Kentucky Travel Industry Association recently honored the Kentucky Distillers’ Association with its prestigious Award of Distinction for the KDA’s Kentucky Bourbon Benefit auction that raised $3.4 million for tornado relief efforts in Western Kentucky.

The auction also earned a gold-level honor in the community support and engagement category at the KTIA’s annual Traverse Awards for Excellence in Kentucky Tourism, which are judged by out-of-state tourism leaders. 

Mandy Ryan, director of the KDA’s Kentucky Bourbon Trail experiences, said the non-profit group is humbled to receive the recognition. Founded in 1880, the KDA promotes, protects and enhances the Commonwealth’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry. 

“It was amazing to see first-hand how our member distillers stepped up and helped fellow Kentuckians in times of need,” Ryan said. “It is our duty as a signature industry and as a tourism attraction that gives back to the community.”

KTIA President & CEO Hank Phillips said this year’s Traverse Awards were marked by comments from the judges about the exceptional quality of entries across the board. Tourism is an $8 billion industry in Kentucky. 

“As tourism in Kentucky continues its recovery, it is apparent that the industry is stepping up with creative and results oriented strategies for capturing prospective visitors’ attention and ultimately their decisions to visit the Commonwealth,” Phillips said. 

The awards were presented during the 2022 Kentucky Travel Industry Annual Conference, held in November at the Griffin Gate Marriott Golf Resort & Spa in Lexington. To see all winners, click here. 

Kentucky travel and tourism businesses and marketing organizations vie for Traverse Awards in 11 categories. The Traverse Awards are judged by a panel of out-of-state travel and tourism industry experts. 

Only five of 160 entries received the “Award of Distinction.” Only three achieved gold-level status in the community support and engagement category. Award criteria include concept, creativity, results and impact. 

In December 2021, a rare band of winter tornadoes ripped through Western Kentucky, decimating communities in 11 counties, causing over $3.5 billion in damages and killing more than 50 Kentuckians. 

The KDA immediately partnered with the Bourbon Crusaders charitable organization, Bourbon curator Fred Minnick and retailer Westport Whiskey & Wine on a six-day auction of rare bottles, private barrel selections, exclusive experiences and more to raise funds for the rebuilding effort. 

A total of 5,158 bidders vied for the benefit auction’s 429 lots. Bidders came from all 50 states, Washington D.C. and as far away as Puerto Rico and Guam. Kentucky, by far, led the way with nearly 1,000 registered bidders. The goal was to raise $1 million. All told, the fundraiser raised $3.4 million to the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund, which Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said was the largest single donation to the effort.