Jeff Crowe and Ideal Bartender Experience Earn Top Awards from Kentucky Travel Industry Association
The Kentucky Travel Industry Association (KTIA), the largest tourism association in Kentucky, has awarded Heaven Hill Director of Kentucky Experiences Jeff Crowe the 2021 Mangeot-Oaken Distinguished Service Award. The award is the highest honor given by the Kentucky travel industry.
The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience Ideal Bartender Experience also earned a nod from the KTIA, winning the KTIA Traverse Awards Award of Distinction for Division D and a Gold Traverse Award for its supporting marketing campaign.
Mangeot-Oaken Award for Distinguished Service
Named for Daniel Mangeot and Mary Ray Oaken, industry icons whose commitment and leadership set the stage and example for tourism leaders, the Mangeot-Oaken Award celebrates the hard work, dedication and contributions of members.
In earning this award, Jeff joins other influential past award recipients who have dedicated their professional careers to developing, promoting and protecting Kentucky’s tourism industry. Jeff, who has served as the organization’s Treasurer for over a year, has worked for decades to improve his community, both as an entrepreneur and tourism expert.
“I was completely shocked to hear my name announced,” said Jeff. “It’s an honor to receive this award, as it’s chosen by my peers from across the state.”
In addition to leading Heaven Hill’s leading attractions in Bardstown and Downtown Louisville, Jeff also leads tourism and hospitality boards across Bardstown, Louisville and Nelson County and is Chair of the Southeast Tourism Society’s (STS) domestic marketplace for 14 southern states.
Traverse Awards
The KTIA Traverse Awards recognize and honor members for talent, creativity and effectiveness in marketing. This year’s awards also celebrated members’ extraordinary efforts displayed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Award recipients were selected by a panel of judges for concept, creativity, results and impact and overall impression of the project.
Earlier this year The Ideal Bartender Experience at the EWBE kicked off Louisville Tourism’s The Unfiltered Truth Collection, featuring stories of many of the African American individuals who built the Louisville experience as we know it today. The collection includes exhibits and experiences hosted by the Frazier History Museum, Kentucky Center for African American Heritage, Kentucky Derby Museum, Locust Grove, Louisville Slugger Museum and Roots 101 African American Museum.
During The Ideal Bartender Experience, EWBE Bourbon Host George Harrison brings to life the character of Tom Bullock, the first African American to write a cocktail book, “The Ideal Bartender.” Sessions of the tasting experience continue to sell out, and “The Ideal Bartender” remains one of the bestselling books in the EWBE gift shop.
Please join us in congratulating Jeff and visitor center teams at the HHBE and EWBE.
