2026 Traverse Awards for Excellence in Kentucky Tourism

Each year, the Kentucky Travel Industry Association invites members to enter the Traverse Awards for Excellence in Kentucky Tourism competition, where travel and tourism professionals are honored and recognized for talent, creativity and effectiveness. 

For recipients, the awards represent a way for hard working individuals and teams to receive the recognition they deserve, and for the communities in which recipients are located, to better understand and appreciate the work of the travel and tourism industry and the professionals who comprise it.

Winners for the 2026 awards will be announced during the 2026 Kentucky Travel Industry Annual Conference in Lexington on Thursday, November 12.

2026 Application 

We are now accepting entries for the 2026 Traverse Awards for Excellence in Kentucky Tourism. Click link below to access this year's application which includes specifics on divisions, categories as well as detailed submission instructions.

2026 Traverse Application

Deadlines 

  • FIRST SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Wednesday, August 5, 2026
  • FINAL SUBMISSION DATE (LATE FEE INCURRED): Wednesday, August 12, 2026 by 5:00 p.m. EST

Eligibility Requirements

Participation in the 2026 Traverse Awards for Excellence in Kentucky Tourism is open for KTIA members only. Note that entries may be submitted by industry organizations, advertising agencies or by other communication firms. However, entries must be submitted in the name of the KTIA member organization for whom the work was produced. 

There is no limit to the number of entries a member can submit but the same entry can only be submitted in one category.

All entries must have been initiated for the first time between March 1, 2025 and July 31, 2026.

Fees

  • Single Entry: $65 per entry
  • Late Fee (August 6-12): Additional $30 per entry 

Once you have submitted your entries including your entry form(s), summary of entries form and supporting materials, KTIA will send you an invoice. You can pay via credit card or by check.

Forms 

To be judged, entrants must complete the following forms: 

  1. Entry Form – (1) entry form must be filled out per submission.
  2. Summary of Entries Form – Once you have determined how many entries, you would like to submit and filled out the corresponding entry form, you must complete the Summary of Entries Form which lists your total submitted entries. Note that all entries submitted must be listed below exactly as they are listed on individual entry forms. 
2026 Entry Form
2026 Summary of Entries Form

Email all forms and materials to Katherine Bowman at [email protected] and Sarah Brock at [email protected]. You will receive a confirmation email when your information has been received.

Webinar

A webinar will be held on Tuesday, June 23 to review the 2026 Traverse Awards submission process and will walk through the application in detail. A recording of the webinar will be shared for anyone who cannot join us.

Register Now

Questions

Contact Katherine Bowman via email at [email protected] or by phone at 502-223-8687 with any questions.