Tourism, convention center renovations continue to push construction in the hospitality sector

Tourism, convention center renovations continue to push construction in the hospitality sector

In Owensboro, two new hotels – Best Western Plus and TownePlace Suites – recently opened their doors with 63 and 102 rooms, respectively, according to an article in the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer, which also noted that the city had just under 1,300 hotel rooms at the end of 2018.

Ground was broken in early June of this year on another 120-room hotel across from the Owensboro Convention Center, a Home2 Suites by Hilton.

Mark Calitri, president/CEO of Visit Owensboro, credits a few factors for the new hotel construction in town. Brand USA, which is the marketing agency for the U.S., named Owensboro a top 10 music destination for 2019, he said. In addition, there are increased youth sporting events, the O.Z. Tyler Bourbon distillery officially joined the Kentucky Bourbon Trail last year and the new Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum opened late last year.

Calitri says the new hotels will only add to the visitor traffic momentum.

“These new hotel developments will allow Visit Owensboro to pursue larger conventions, since we will now have more hotel rooms in walking distance to our convention center. Since September 2018 up through August 2019, Owensboro has set several records in hotel occupancy and revenue.”

 http://www.markcalitri.com/hospitality-construction-making-room-for-more-hotels/

https://www.lanereport.com/116737/2019/09/hospitality-construction-making-room-for-more-hotels/

Owensboro Kentucky: Chamber CEO named a top woman in business

http://www.markcalitri.com/chamber-candance-brake-mark-calitri/

Owensboro Kentucky: Chamber CEO named a top woman in business

Owensboro Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Candance Castlen Brake was named one of seven top women in business by The Lane Report.

“Candance has been our most valuable asset in helping to transform Visit Owensboro into an award-winning organization,” said Mark Calitri, President & CEO of Visit Owensboro. “In today’s world filled with so much negativity Candance is a positive light for Visit Owensboro, me personally, and she is Owensboro’s #1 cheerleader.”



https://www.lanereport.com/115585/2019/07/top-women-in-business-3/

Visit Owensboro is the official destination marketing organization for Owensboro and Daviess County Kentucky. www.visitowensboro.com Mark Calitri serves as President/CEO.

Calitri reports: Turf at Fisher Park 'game-changer

http://www.markcalitri.com/calitri-reports-turf-at-fisher-park-game-changer/

During the August board meeting of the Owensboro Daviess County Convention and Visitors Bureau Jared Bratcher highlighted the success and opportunities in sports tourism for Owensboro.  Mark Calitri introduced Bratcher and asked him to outline the scope of sports marketing and how the CVB collaborates with the Owensboro and Daviess County Parks Department to schedule tournaments.

Mark Calitri interviews Knox County Central High School Cheerleaders

Mark Calitri speaks tourism: O.Z Tyler continues to lead tourism for Daviess County.

Mark Calitri speaks tourism:  O.Z Tyler continues to lead tourism for Daviess County.





O.Z. Tyler Distillery
was recognized as the Manufacturer of the Year at the 2019 Chamber celebration.

Owensboro has started to
create the foundation to build a sustainable tourism infrastructure, which also
offers quality of life amenities and experiences to residents.

Hear the Music: Owensboro, Kentucky

Brand
USA takes Owensboro Kentucky to world stage

Owensboro
tourism moved to the international stage Thursday night with the launching of
Brand USA's "Hear the Music, Experience The USA" campaign locally.

Brand
USA, the marketing agency for American tourism, selected Owensboro as one of
its Top 10 American music cities last year.

And a
short video about Owensboro has already drawn more than 4.1 million views --
and 22 million impressions, the number of times the website is opened --
worldwide.

That's
more than any other city in the campaign, Tom Garzilli, chief marketing officer
for Brand USA, told a crowd gathered at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame &
Museum.

Mark
Calitri, president of the Owensboro-Daviess County Convention & Visitors
Bureau, called the promotion "a beautiful opportunity for Owensboro."

It's
time, he said, for the area to capitalize on its music heritage.

Kristen
Branscum, commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Tourism, said Thursday was
a time "to celebrate another feather in Owensboro's cap."

The
community's bourbon, bluegrass and barbecue promotion is something authentic
that tourists -- foreign and domestic -- are looking for, she said.

Bluegrass
music, Branscum said, "is a calling card for Owensboro and the entire
state."

Brand USA Hear the Music: Owensboro, Kentucky

Brand
USA takes Owensboro Kentucky to world stage

Owensboro
tourism moved to the international stage Thursday night with the launching of
Brand USA's "Hear the Music, Experience The USA" campaign locally.

Brand
USA, the marketing agency for American tourism, selected Owensboro as one of
its Top 10 American music cities last year.

And a
short video about Owensboro has already drawn more than 4.1 million views --
and 22 million impressions, the number of times the website is opened --
worldwide.

That's
more than any other city in the campaign, Tom Garzilli, chief marketing officer
for Brand USA, told a crowd gathered at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame &
Museum.

Mark
Calitri, president of the Owensboro-Daviess County Convention & Visitors
Bureau, called the promotion "a beautiful opportunity for Owensboro."

It's
time, he said, for the area to capitalize on its music heritage.

Kristen
Branscum, commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Tourism, said Thursday was
a time "to celebrate another feather in Owensboro's cap."

The
community's bourbon, bluegrass and barbecue promotion is something authentic
that tourists -- foreign and domestic -- are looking for, she said.

Bluegrass
music, Branscum said, "is a calling card for Owensboro and the entire
state."