Kentucky, like most U.S. states, has endured a devastating year for its tourism industry and created unprecedented challenges for all hospitality-related businesses. Unlike many other states, however, Kentucky will not have a chance to recover from the pandemic losses due to the tourism industry being left out of the recent federal relief bill. The American Rescue Plan released more than $1 billion dollars to the state of Kentucky. Kentucky’s tourism industry knew relief would be on the way when the plan included this statement: “To respond to the public health emergency of COVID-19 or its negative economic impacts, including assistance to households, small businesses and nonprofits, or aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel and hospitality.”