Owensboro is on pace to see a record number of visitors in 2025.
Mark Calitri, president of the Owensboro-Daviess County Convention & Visitors Bureau, said every month from January through June saw new records set in hotel room occupancy.
The average for the first six months of the year was 63.08%, he said.
That’s up 8.9% from the 57.7% rate in the first six months of 2024.
Calitri said, “We’re seeing real momentum right now across conventions, meetings, and weddings, and it’s all coming together because of a strong team effort. Our hotels, restaurants, the convention center, and attractions are working in sync, and we’re getting things done.”
He said, “The remainder of 2025 is shaping up to be one of Owensboro’s strongest years for tourism and group business.”
Calitri said, “September features several major conferences, including the prestigious Kentucky League of Cities and the return of the Special Olympics Kentucky State Softball Championships. The exclusive Billy Strings event at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum is expected to draw significant regional and national attention.”
He said, “New events like the Defenders Law Rally are also adding to the calendar, a strong sports rebound with the new Kentucky All A Classic girls state volleyball championship and the Kentucky Aviation Conference. Owensboro is also set to host a national travel planners conference, further cementing its place on the map for group travel and meetings.”
The 2025 Glidden Tour, the nation’s oldest automobile tour, is coming to Owensboro for six days in September with more than 130 cars built before 1941.
Calitri said, “Weddings continue to be a reliable economic driver, with Daviess County averaging nearly 700 marriage licenses issued annually and a wide array of high-quality venues.”
And he said Green River Distilling is attracting a large number of visitors this year.