Worthen, McNulty Inducted Into Tourism Hall of Fame

Montine McNulty, executive director of the Arkansas Hospitality Association, and Bill Worthen, director of Historic Arkansas Museum.

Bill Worthen, director of Historic Arkansas Museum, and Montine McNulty, executive director of the Arkansas Hospitality Association, were inducted into the Arkansas Tourism Hall of Fame Monday at the 42nd annual Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Springdale.

The Hall of Fame honor is presented each year to an individual or individuals who have been actively involved in tourism for many years and who have made substantial contributions to the betterment of the industry.

For more than four decades, Worthen has been as director of Historic Arkansas Museum, leading it through expansions of facilities, programs, collections, publications, exhibits, research, partnerships, community development and tourism.

According to a news release from the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism, Worthen’s leadership and advocacy have contributed to the revitalization of downtown Little Rock and helped put both Little Rock and Arkansas as a whole on the map as a travel destination.

Through her leadership for the leisure and tourism industry, McNulty has played an role in promoting tourism-related legislation over the past 25 years, including the passage of the 2 percent tourism tax and the 1/8th cent conservation tax.