The Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) was recently honored by Louisville Tourism with The Partner of the Year Award. This award was presented to Louisville Regional Airport Authority Executive Director Dan Mann at Louisville Tourism’s annual meeting and awards ceremony on Friday, November 1 at the Omni Louisville Hotel by Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer and Louisville Tourism President and CEO Karen Williams.
“We are honored to be recognized with this award from Louisville Tourism for our team’s efforts throughout the past year as we worked together on a variety of hospitality initiatives,” said Dan Mann, Executive Director of the Louisville Regional Airport Authority. “The airport serves as the first welcome and first impression many have of our community. We are proud to be a strong partner with Louisville Tourism and showcase our city to all those who travel through the airport.”
The Partner of the Year Award is given to the person or organization who worked the hardest to advance the efforts of Louisville Tourism throughout the year.
“We are so proud to see the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport win this well-deserved recognition,” said Karen Williams, Louisville Tourism President and CEO. “The airport initiated and embraced the rename, reflecting how synonymous the city is with one of the most recognized icons of all time. What a perfect way to welcome and engage travelers, inspiring them to visit the landmarks that make up Ali’s Footsteps of Greatness.”
In addition to The Partner of the Year Award, the Louisville airport was further recognized as part of the ceremony’s ROSE Awards. The ROSE Awards, which stand for Recognition of Service Excellence, honor those front-line representatives of the city’s hospitality industry. This year, Judy Cederholm, a 15-year veteran of the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport Ambassador Program, was honored with the ROSE Award in the volunteer category. She was one of nine winners from 53 finalists in nine different hospitality-related categories.
“This was a great day for us,” added Mann. “We are so proud of Judy, along with all of the volunteer Airport Ambassadors at SDF for the dedication they show year after year as they welcome travelers and airport guests to Louisville. Judy’s been a passionate volunteer at the airport since the Airport Ambassador Program began in 2004, and we’re so excited to see her recognized by the community for her hard work and commitment.”
Eight volunteers of the Airport Ambassador Program at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport have been selected as ROSE Award winners since 2007. The Airport Ambassador Program is currently comprised of nearly 75 volunteers who provide assistance from the terminal’s Information Booth seven-days-a-week, 365-days-a-year including on holidays and weather emergencies. Its here they volunteer a combined 192-hours each week to welcome and help to travelers and other airport guests.
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport is served by six airlines offering flights to more than 30 nonstop destinations including 19 of the region’s top 20 domestic markets. With just one stop, travelers from across the region can reach more than 460 destinations in the U.S. and worldwide.
