Tuesday, August 13, 2024
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Mike Mangeot, currently serving as the Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Tourism, has been honored as the 2024 State Tourism Director of the Year by his national peers. This prestigious award highlights outstanding achievements in marketing, promotion, and leadership within the honoree’s state.
Mangeot’s recognition was announced in front of a thousand destination marketing professionals at the U.S. Travel Association’s annual ESTO conference, the premier gathering for travel and destination leaders, held this year in Columbus, Ohio. The award is determined by the U.S. Travel’s National Council of State Tourism Directors, which represents the official tourism offices of all U.S. states and territories and votes annually ahead of ESTO.
In his second term as state tourism commissioner, Mangeot returned to the role in 2020 after previously serving from 2012 to 2016. Under his leadership, Kentucky experienced record-breaking visitor spending and economic impact in 2023, reaching $13.8 billion and attracting 79.3 million travelers—a 4.5% increase from 2022. The state also set a new record with nine tourism development projects in 2023, projected to generate $292 million in economic investment and create over 550 jobs. Kentucky Gov. Beshear and the Kentucky General Assembly responded to the industry’s success by approving the largest budget in the history of Kentucky Tourism.
Mangeot’s commitment to inclusivity has been evident in his launch of DEI initiatives and training programs for travel industry partners, as well as the creation of the first state-led marketing campaigns targeting African American, Hispanic, and LGBTQ+ travelers.
He serves on multiple boards with distinction, including the U.S. Travel Association, Brand USA, Travel South USA—where he recently completed a term as chairman—Southeast Tourism Society, and Kentucky Travel Industry Association. His previous roles include serving as President and CEO of the Kentucky Association for Economic Development and as the executive director of the Bardstown-Nelson County Tourism Commission.
The announcement of Mangeot as this year’s State Tourism Director was made by Dave Lorenz, the 2023 honoree and vice president of Travel Michigan. The selection process for this award involves nominations from state and territory tourism directors, with three finalists presented annually for a final selection by ballot.
