Ali Center Named Best New Attraction

FRANKFORT, KY (November 14, 2006) -- The Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville has been honored with the 5-Star Award for Best New Attraction by the North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) .  Nearing its first full year of operation later this month, the Ali Center is a unique downtown attraction founded by Muhammad Ali and his wife Lonnie that, since its opening, has welcomed nearly 85,000 visitors from around the state and the world. 

The 5-Star Award was chosen by vote of the NATJA membership consisting of more than 500 travel writers, editors, authors and broadcasters.  According to NATJA President Dan Schlossberg, there were more than 50 other attractions named on the write-in ballots and that many of them received multiple votes. 

All of us at NATJA are very pleased at the selection of the Muhammad Ali Center for a prize in our 5-Star Awards program,” said Schlossberg. “The Ali Center was chosen because it is a new and exciting venue in a city that is enhancing its reputation far beyond the Kentucky Derby.”

Michael Fox, president and CEO of the Center said, “We could not be happier with this distinction. Knowing that NATJA writers have experienced other outstanding new attractions all over North America and chose the Ali Center as its 5-Star winner only reinforces that our 2-1/2 levels of exhibits are as compelling, inspirational, and affecting as we had always envisioned. We hope that this honor will only help the Commonwealth of Kentucky increase its cultural tourism reputation around the world resulting in greater visitation to our wonderful state.”

“We’re excited about the Ali Center’s potential for serving as a catalyst for tourism growth in Louisville and throughout Kentucky,” said Tourism Commissioner Randy Fiveash. “This award underscores the center’s unique qualities as a must-see tourism attraction.”

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