Thigpen Honored with Apex Award

September 21, 2020

Black Meetings & Tourism Magazine has honored Visit Jackson President and CEO Rickey Thigpen with an Apex Award, recognizing individuals who have made outstanding contributions in their particular fields of endeavor and positively impacted travel and tourism.

The award was presented by Black Meetings & Tourism Magazine during the annual Multicultural and Heritage Tourism Conference, held virtually due to COVID-19.

“This award encompasses the work and passion that black, brown and tan tourism professionals exhibit each day,” said Thigpen through a video taped acceptance speech. He added, “What an honor!”

The conference is designed to share minority travel trends, learn how to market mutlicultural & heritage tourism, and look at diversity issues affecting the hospitality industry.

It also empowers urban and rural communities to become self-sufficient through the development and marketing of multicultural & heritage tourism, the fastest-growing segment in the tourism industry.

Thigpen also provided his thoughts and perspectives as a panelist during the virtual general session, “Hospitality & Tourism Executive Roundtable – A View From The Top,” alongside Elliot Ferguson, President & CEO Destination DC; the Honorable Joseph Boshult, Commissioner, US Virgin Islands; and Haydn Hughes, Minister of Tourism, Anguilla.

Watch on YouTube.

About Visit Jackson

Visit Jackson is the official destination leadership organization for the city of Jackson. The bureau serves Jackson by positively impacting the city’s economy through recruitment and procurement of meetings and tourism activities.

Created in 1983, Visit Jackson acts as a quasi-independent government agency reauthorized by the state legislature and governed by an independently appointed board of directors with members representing the hotel, restaurant, attraction, art, and education sectors.

Media contact: Kim Lewis – klewis@visitjackson.com or 601.354.2553 for interviews, statements and story ideas.