The City of Owensboro is stepping up efforts to collect transient room taxes from short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb, citing significant revenue losses and fairness concerns. In a move to tighten compliance, City officials discussed amendments to the transient room tax ordinance during a meeting on Tuesday, highlighting enforcement tools and clarifying responsibilities for…
Mark Calitri
Big win for Owensboro! Kentucky All “A” Classic Basketball Championships
Owensboro will host the 2025 Kentucky All “A” Classic Basketball Championships for both boys and girls, according to a joint announcement by Visit Owensboro and the Kentucky All “A” Classic. The tournament features 32 of the state’s top small school teams and will take place Jan. 22-26, 2025, at the Owensboro Sportscenter. Mark Calitri, president…
Mark Calitri reports Churchill Downs will create $125 million local economic impact
Churchill Downs has said that the gaming facility should create a $125 million local economic impact. Mark Calitri, president of the Owensboro-Daviess County Convention & Visitors Bureau, said, “Gaming facilities are proven tourism drivers, creating jobs and enhancing Owensboro’s appeal for leisure and business travelers, complementing our other attractions.” Roof said he expects the gaming…
Mark Calitri highlights tourism impact at Leadership Owensboro
Mark Calitri, President of Visit Owensboro, recently had the honor of presenting to Leadership Owensboro, a prestigious talent development program organized by the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce. The program focuses on educating, engaging, and empowering future leaders in the community by exposing them to critical topics and issues impacting Owensboro. During his presentation, Calitri…
Owensboro and Daviess County Kentucky: A hub for growth and national attention
Owensboro is grabbing headlines as it cements its status as a dynamic hub for tourism, business, and sports. The recent groundbreaking of a new indoor sports complex is a significant milestone in the city’s evolution, promising to attract new events, teams, and visitors from across the country. This state-of-the-art facility is poised to be a…
Beyond business: The Innovate Summit draws professionals from across nation, globe
The Owensboro Convention Center was filled with people from several states and across the world from places like Israel and the State of Palestine Wednesday for The Innovate Summit’s inaugural year. The two-and-a-half day event, coined to bring together “some of the brightest minds on the planet throughout the globe,” saw professionals from a variety…
Owensboro has legendary year! Momentum forward.
Local hotels saw a banner year in 2023. Mark Calitri, president of the Owensboro-Daviess County Convention & Visitors Bureau, said the occupancy rate was 59.2%. Local hotels saw record revenues in ’23 | News | messenger-inquirer.com “This economic surge was fueled by a robust calendar of events at the convention center, and by being strategically…
Barbecue & Barrels Weekend- an incredible success story!
The Barbecue & Barrels event achieved remarkable success, boasting record-setting attendance and participation. It’s not just an event; it was a resounding success story! Notably, this year saw a surge in attendance, with record numbers of church teams and food vendors, highest attended concert ever, all contributing to the excitement in the air. This year…
Mark Calitri on leadership: Who stole Wonder Woman and Evel Knievel?
Did you grow up in a time with great role models and heroes? A time when people and TV shows portrayed solid values and exemplified reaching higher levels and going farther than we dreamed possible. Did you grow up with Wonder Women and Evil Knievel, heroes who fought for truth, justice, and the American way?…
Outdoor Date Ideas for Adventurous Couples!
Some couples love lazy days in, and some would rather spend their time together outdoors! Either way, there is no shortage of fun for our couples who enjoy being active together. Check out these fun, safe options in Daviess County: Rudy Mine Trails at Ben Hawes State Park For the couple craving an adrenaline…