Appalachian Triangle wins award at SOAR Gala

Janie Slaven, The Sentinel Echo, London, Ky.
·2 min read

May 1—PRESTONSBURG — The Appalachian Triangle of Kentucky was honored Saturday as the Tourism Organization of the Year at the annual Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) Gala.

The Appalachian Triangle group was established as a partnership among eight tourism groups in the southeastern Kentucky area.

Tourism commissions involved include city of Corbin, London-Laurel County, Rockcastle-Mt. Vernon, Whitley County, Bell County, Barbourville, Manchester, and city of Harlan.

The purpose of the group, whose marketing campaign officially launched in March, is to combine their collective resources and establish southeastern Kentucky as a major tourism destination.

Earlier this year at a Corbin Tourism Commission meeting, a preview of an advertisement for tourism in the area was played and brought some members of the commission to tears.

Now, after winning an award for their efforts, several public figures involved in the Appalachian Triangle have commented on their victory.

Maggy Monhollen, former Corbin Tourism and Convention Commission Director and new manager of Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, had this to say about the victory: "It's such an honor and a privilege for the Appalachian Triangle of Kentucky to have been awarded the Tourism Organization of the Year award at the SOAR Gala, and we are so grateful for everyone who made this a reality. Their is power in numbers, and it is only through collaboration that Southeast Kentucky will ever realize its full potential."

Whitley County Judge Executive Pat White stated, "Whitley County has long had numerous natural resources that make it a tourism destination. We have worked for years to develop activities that promote tourism. I'm proud our County could work with other tourism leaders in the region to highlight these resources and draw more people into the area for tourism and to highlight our home. The Appalachian Triangle has done amazing work to get the word out and publicize the area. I'm grateful to Shaping Our Appalachian Region for recognizing the hard that has gone into this project. It is proof that working together to promote our area works."

"The London-Laurel County Tourism Board has a long-history of developing tourism and we will continue to do so with individuals, the community, and other organizations...," Co-Founder of the London-Laurel County Tourism Commission Tom Handy added. "The future looks good for Laurel County as we continue to develop the tourism industry."

Learn more at visitatky.com.