Monhollen named as recipient for regional tourism award

The Cumberland Gap Region Tourism Association, comprised of multiple counties from Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia, held their annual Region Strong Awards ceremony last week, where a local community member was presented with the association’s most prestigious award.

Maggy Monhollen, Corbin Tourism Director, was bestowed the 2021 Region Strong Award during the ceremony for her work in the promoting the area through her tourism efforts. The award is presented each year to a resident within the association’s membership for their outstanding work within the community, specifically for “building a stronger regional economy through tourism and community development.”

Monhollen said she was both surprised and extremely flattered to have received this year’s award.

“It was a tremendous honor to have been selected as the recipient and I am so humbled,” said Monhollen. “It was really nice.”

The association’s membership includes four counties in Kentucky, five counties and Tennessee and one county in Virginia. Whitley County—which is one of the four Kentucky counties—had two nominees for the award, with Monhollen being one and the Kentucky Splash Water Park being the other.

Nominations for the award are accepted from members within the association’s counties and nominees are then voted on by the members and board of directors, meaning that the award recipient is chosen by peers within the field.

“Anytime your work is recognized by your peers, it’s an honor,” said Monhollen. “And it’s great that Corbin is being recognized as a key player in the industry.”

And while receiving the award brings no accompanying prize or tangible benefit for Corbin Tourism or Whitley County, Monhollen said the prestige that comes with the award is valuable in itself.

“Corbin and Whitley County has been identified as a key partner in the region,” said Monhollen.