LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Karen Williams, retired President and CEO of Louisville Tourism, acquired the eighth once-a-year Lois Mateus Networking Award in honor of her distinguished contributions to Kentucky’s signature bourbon and spirits sector.

Bourbon Girls Founder and Chair Emeritus Peggy Noe Stevens and KDA President Eric Gregory applauded Williams for her fantastic perform creating Louisville as a bourbon location model.

“Karen Williams’s illustrious vocation in tourism and her compelling dedication to bourbon tourism was a driving drive in our market,” Stevens said. “Her leadership in guiding Louisville to come to be a leading place for bourbon is not only appreciated by our sector, but we honor her via this award.”

Williams’s 40-12 months career in the hospitality business commenced in Atlanta where by she labored as a income supervisor at the Ritz-Carlton Resort. Through that time, she assisted open 18 accommodations throughout the world.

She relocated to Louisville to provide 23 several years at the Louisville Conference & Website visitors Bureau.

Williams also served as chairwoman of the Desired destination and Vacation Foundation, a charitable business committed to highlighting the impact of vacation all around the entire world and serving desired destination advertising and marketing industry experts.

In 2012, Williams retired as executive vice president. That similar year, she gained the Dan Mangeot Award, which acknowledges people today who have created important contributions to the progression of tourism.

In 2014, Williams returned as pesident and CEO of the Louisville CVB – the company now recognized as Louisville Tourism – where she created it a priority to function with the KDA to build the first Kentucky Bourbon Trail working experience in downtown Louisville alongside the historic Whiskey Row.

Beneath her leadership, Louisville boasted 8 Bourbon Trail distillery places – the most of any other metropolis. In addition, Williams helped KDA start the illustrious Kentucky Bourbon Affair fantasy camp that brings bourbon aficionados from all all around the globe to Louisville and surrounding communities every calendar year.

KDA President Eric Gregory mentioned Williams’s steadfast and reasonable leadership was key to aligning the bourbon business and its tourism partners.

“Karen is one particular of the very best international ambassadors for Kentucky’s signature bourbon and distilled spirits business –and the commonwealth at significant – that you will ever come across,” he said.

Gregory also remarked on Williams’s thrust to combine Bourbon into all aspects of the customer encounter by elevating Louisville as a top “foodie” metropolis and operating with Mayor Greg Fischer on “Bourbonism” initiatives which includes bourbon-themed hotels and songs festivals.

“She has transformed the bourbon tourism landscape for the state, which is evidenced by the millions of distillery excursions specified every single yr. This award is our way of honoring her vision and determination to the good results of our commonwealth’s beloved heritage.”

The award is named for Lois Mateus, retired Senior Vice President of Brown-Forman, Inc., and the 1st female ever to provide on the KDA Board. Her two-yr phrase in 1992 paved the way for other women of all ages in higher-rating roles all through Kentucky’s signature bourbon business.

Karen Williams thanked the KDA and Bourbon Women for the honor and was introduced with the award very last Friday night at Bourbon Women’s annual SIPosium Welcome Evening meal.

“It is this sort of a correct privilege and honor to be recognized with an award that was named for Lois Mateus, a person that I have normally admired, a genuine trailblazer, a lady with this kind of style and grace,” Williams reported. “I am also honored to have experienced the chance to work with the KDA workforce – they are so committed, so experienced and a genuine associate to the tourism marketplace. Doing work with KDA, the distilled spirits is one of the best brand pillars of our business, we are the envy of our industry – worldwide”.

The award is provided yearly by Bourbon Women in conjunction with the KDA centered on the adhering to criteria for a woman who has:

Bourbon Gals is a leading firm for women of all ages who are passionate about exploring bourbon and the lifestyle that surrounds it.

Developed exclusively for academic, networking and charitable reasons, Bourbon Women’s rapidly-developing membership is built up of gals from more than 30 states and proceeds to type new branches across the nation.

Given that its inception, the Bourbon Girls Association has encouraged publications on women in the marketplace, created partnerships with crucial industry associations, held the initially bourbon weekend for gals, and continues to raise cash for philanthropies as a result of their exceptional, large-quality functions.

Bourbon Women of all ages from all around the place occur with each other at the time a 12 months for their yearly Bourbon Women of all ages SIPosium. This year’s 4-working day celebration was hosted in Louisville and showcased excursions to distilleries around the region.

Study a lot more at www.bourbonwomen.org.

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