New tourism director discusses her intentions during June chamber luncheon

The June membership luncheon of the Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce was held Tuesday at the Corbin Center, with the new executive director of the Corbin Tourism and Convention Commission, Nancy Conley, serving as the special guest speaker.

“We are really excited to make the announcement that we have found our new executive director,” said Corbin Tourism Board Chairperson Jeannie Hensley during her introduction. “We had 11 applicants, and when we met and talked with Nancy we all looked at each other and said, ‘There she is.’”

Conley’s resume is certainly impressive, with nearly 16 years of experience working in the tourism industry while representing the City of Berea. A native of northern Ohio, she first came to Kentucky as a student at Berea College, opting to remain there after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 2006. Not long after, she began her career In tourism, and in her words, “never looked back.”

“I stand here in front of you with great excitement,” Conley said during her presentation at the luncheon. “I am humbled to be here as the new executive director of the Corbin Tourism and Convention Commission, and I know that my skills and experience, combined with my deep passion for tourism and community development, will serve Corbin well.”

Speaking about some of her personal interests, Conley said that she likes to garden, and enjoys camping and other outdoor adventures. “I love challenges,” she said. “And I have taken on a big one here, because I have some big shoes to fill.”

With a work history that includes positions in several different areas of the service and hospitality industries, and a certification in travel marketing from the Southeast Tourism Marketing College, Conley said that she still continues attending professional development sessions and education seminars, as it allows her to stay up-to-date on tourism industry trends.

Conley cited some findings from the latest economic impact report released by the Kentucky Department of Tourism, including the fact that nearly 80 million travelers visited the Commonwealth last year. According to the report, those travelers spent nearly a combined $10 billion across several different categories, including food and beverage, lodging, transportation, retail, and recreation and entertainment.

Conley pointed out that all of this spending contributed approximately $1 billion in state and local taxes, and that it would require about $564 from each household in the state to make up for the loss of that revenue.

“We are thankful for those travelers,” Conley said, breaking things down on the local level by saying that our region accounted just over $420 million in 2023, and that nearly $117 million came from Whitley County alone.

“After reviewing this study, there is no doubt in my mind that Corbin is on the right track,” Conley said. “From fostering preservation of natural, cultural, and historical resources, to sports and outdoor adventure tourism, to unique shopping and dining, special events, and everything in between, Corbin really has so much to offer.”

Conley pointed out that she is excited about this year’s Burger Week event, which is scheduled to take place June 17-22 in Corbin, and she is also looking forward to experiencing the other food-centric promotions that are scheduled to take place in the coming months.

Conley said that she plans on continuing a diversified and strategic approach when it comes to marketing the city’s tourism opportunities, and she is eager to collaborate with elected officials, business owners and citizens in order to continue growing the local area as a prime tourist destination.