Mark Calitri Visit Owensboro President/CEO speaks tourism
Owensboro-Daviess County Tourism Generates Record-Setting $262.9 Million, Sets New Hotel Records OWENSBORO, KY – Newly released tourism impact data from the Commonwealth of Kentucky shows visitors spent a record $262.9 million in Daviess County during 2025, generating $20 million in state and local tax revenue and supporting 2,034 jobs. The 2025 results represent a $13.2…
more: Owensboro and Daviess County Tourism Sets New Record: $262.9 Million and Climbing
Owensboro continues building momentum as a music destination, and the upcoming Southeast Regional Folk Alliance conference is another example of that growth. The national conference will bring artists, songwriters, music professionals, and visitors from across the country to Owensboro later this month. Events like this continue strengthening Owensboro’s reputation as a city investing heavily in…
more: Mark Calitri: Owensboro Is Positioning Itself at the Forefront of Music Tourism
Mark Calitri’s The Winning Leadership Playbook™: The Pete Rose Way — Hustle, Heart, and High-Performance has officially been added to the collection at the Daviess County Public Library. That matters. Libraries choose books they believe bring value to their community. This wasn’t simply about putting another title on a shelf. The library saw value in…
Owensboro’s growth didn’t happen overnight. It was built through a clear strategy. One that focused on sports tourism, events, bourbon, and real economic impact. Under the leadership of Mark Calitri, Visit Owensboro took a direct approach—build a pipeline, create experiences, and drive results that show up across the community. This page brings that story together.…
more: The Growth of Owensboro Tourism: How Mark Calitri and Visit Owensboro Built the Strategy
Winning Leadership Is Not Theory. It’s Execution. If you’ve followed my recent leadership writing, you’ve seen a consistent theme. Winning leadership is not about motivational talk.It’s about habits.It’s about preparation.It’s about execution when the pressure is real. Over the past several weeks, I’ve written three leadership articles that connect directly to this mindset. Together, they…
More travelers are starting to make a different choice. Skip the big city. Find something real. That’s where places like Owensboro, Kentucky are starting to stand out. 🧭 A Different Kind of Experience Big cities offer scale. Owensboro offers something different. You don’t spend your time fighting traffic or waiting in lines. You spend your…
more: Why Visitors Are Skipping Big Cities for Owensboro Kentucky
Every destination has assets. Not every destination turns those assets into growth. That’s where leadership matters. In Owensboro, that leadership has been centered around a clear approach—treat tourism like a business, focus on results, and build something that lasts. That’s the role Mark Calitri and Visit Owensboro have played in shaping the city’s growth. 🧭…
more: Mark Calitri and Visit Owensboro: The Leadership Behind Tourism Growth
Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball has talent.That’s not up for debate. Big brand.Big expectations.Every opponent prepares for them like it’s a measuring stick game. After a recent matchup, an opposing coach said something that caught my attention. He didn’t celebrate.He didn’t praise his own team. He talked about execution. Missed passes.Poor spacing.Breakdowns they knew they could…
By Mark Calitri, President & CEO, Visit Owensboro Facilities matter, but progress comes from how a community uses them. The Bluegrass Fieldhouse strengthens Owensboro’s ability to attract visitors, host events, and create meaningful first experiences that shape how people see our city. Tourism is often the front door to economic development. Before someone considers…
more: Bluegrass Fieldhouse: A Major Step Forward for Owensboro, Kentucky
Youth sports are one of the most overlooked leadership and economic development tools a community has. This week, Owensboro is hosting the All “A” and 2A State Basketball Championships, welcoming student-athletes, coaches, and families from communities across Kentucky. On the surface, it’s competition. Beneath it, something bigger is happening. According to Mark Calitri, President and…
more: Youth Sports, Leadership, and Why Owensboro Gets It Right