20 People to Know – Tourism & Hospitality: KJ Martin
KJ Martin, assistant vice president of visitor experience, Muhammad Ali Center, is one of our 20 People to Know in Tourism/Hospitality. KJ Martin, a former member of the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, discusses his journey into the tourism/hospitality industry. He credits his introduction to the industry with changing his career by learning about it and engaging in conversations about the city, its history, and its legacy. Martin also recommends that Greater Louisville research other forms of transit, such as a light rail or trolley system, which could increase visitor numbers and reduce stress by constant need to find parking. He suggests that the city should celebrate the legacy of Muhammad Ali, an icon who grew up in the West End of Louisville, as an ambassador and one of the first United Nations Messengers of Peace.
Published : 4 weeks ago by Amy Higgs in Business Travel
How did you get into the tourism/hospitality business, and what do you like about it?
I began working at the Muhammad Ali Center in the fall of 2012. That was followed by a ROSE (Recognition of Service Excellence) Award nomination and finalist soon thereafter. That moment of experience opened my eyes to an industry I didn’t know much about. Once I learned the ropes, it completely changed my thoughts of my career path. The dialogue I was having with guests, fellow teammates and others within the tourism industry meant so much to me. It allowed me the type of interaction with people I never thought to pursue in life. My only other passion at the time was in the field of criminal justice, and obviously these conversations were of extremely different context. Having conversations about the city of Louisville, Muhammad or any other iconic moments of historic relevance made me realize this industry was my true calling. Once I understood the assignment, I prayed about my decision and told myself to reach for the stars.
What’s one thing you’ve seen in another city — a place, an attraction, an installation — that you’d like to see in Greater Louisville?
I would like to see our city research other forms of transit, such as a light rail or trolley system. This would be essential for our visitors to utilize in Greater Louisville. They could also use light rail or trolley when traveling to other attractions further out, such as University of Louisville and the Kentucky Derby Museum. I believe if we had a system of this caliber, we could not only increase our visiting population but also reduce the stress created by continuous need to find enough parking garages or street parking.
What’s one attraction in Greater Louisville that locals take for granted?
The Muhammad Ali Center. We should all be ambassadors of Louisville, Ky., and who comes from our city. To that point, we have an iconic global humanitarian who grew up in the West End of Louisville, at 3302 Grand Ave., but we fall short of understanding what he stood for and still means to so many. He wasn’t only the greatest boxer of the 20th century, he was an activist, a philanthropist and one of the first United Nations Messengers of Peace. We need to build around his amazing achievements and speak on the heroic moments and contributions of his life as we speak of Louisville and tourism.