The coronavirus pandemic hit Owensboro on March 13 — Friday the 13th. “One hotel reported that they lost over $50,000 in future reservations,” Mark Calitri, president of the Owensboro-Daviess County Convention & Visitors Bureau, said a few days later. “That’s in one day! This type of news indicates to me that April results could be…
Mark Calitri
CVB trying to rebuild community calendar
There wasn’t much on the Owensboro-Daviess County Convention & Visitors Bureau’s community calendar during the last nine months of 2020. Most things were canceled by the coronavirus pandemic. But it’s 2021 now, and the CVB wants to hear from people planning “tourism-friendly” events. “Our calendar keeps the public, both locals and visitors, informed of…
CVB wins ConventionSouth award
The Owensboro-Daviess County Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Visit Owensboro arm has won ConventionSouth’s Readers’ Choice Award for the third time. ConventionSouth is a national multi-media resource for planning events in the South. More than 3,000 destinations were nominated for the honors. They were then placed on an online ballot and meeting professionals and fans…
Bacon appointed to state travel board
Claude Bacon, vice chairman of the board at the Owensboro-Daviess County Convention & Visitors Bureau, has been appointed to the Kentucky Travel Industry Association’s board of directors. Mark Calitri, CVB president, said having a seat on the state board is a big deal for Owensboro. “With the devastating results of COVID-19, this is a significant…
CVB focusing on post-pandemic recovery
Mark Calitri, president of the Owensboro-Daviess County Convention & Visitors Bureau, says there are 8 million people within a 200-mile radius of Owensboro. That includes an area bordered by St. Louis, Cincinnati, Lafayette, Indiana, and a few miles into northern Alabama. And Calitri’s goal is to bring as many of them to town as…
CVB wins ConventionSouth award
The Owensboro-Daviess County Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Visit Owensboro arm has won ConventionSouth’s Readers’ Choice Award for the third time. ConventionSouth is a national multi-media resource for planning events in the South. More than 3,000 destinations were nominated for the honors. They were then placed on an online ballot and meeting professionals and fans voted…
Mark Calitri speaks tourism: 3 ways to build guest confidence for Owensboro Kentucky
According to author Jena Tessa Fox and the most recent Price Waterhouse Coopers survey—travelers will make travel decisions based on safety. The PwC survey found some definite bright spots as almost 40% of consumers plan to travel by this July. Mark Calitri, Visit Owensboro, President/CEO, indicated that for the tourism industry to begin recovery two…
more: Mark Calitri speaks tourism: 3 ways to build guest confidence for Owensboro Kentucky
Words of Encouragement From Visit Owensboro President & CEO Mark Calitri
During uncertain times, one thing is definite. We will be better as a result of this crises. Everyone loves a comeback story and Owensboro will come back better than ever. We’ve been the underdog before and we thrive in that role. As the virus continues to evolve, our local small businesses along with the hospitality…
more: Words of Encouragement From Visit Owensboro President & CEO Mark Calitri
Downtown hotel should help draw larger conventions
The new downtown hotel, Home2Suites by Hilton, will be a transformative addition to Owensboro and its bustling tourism development. The new hotel is located on Second Street across from the Owensboro Convention Center and is set to open for guests in April 2021 or sooner. The 120-room hotel gives Owensboro three downtown hotels to help…
Mark Calitri reports: Hydroplane racing returns to Kentucky-10,000 plus expected!
10,000-plus expected! That’s 10,000 or more.“Competitors will be coming from Washington, Florida, Maryland, Canada and all over the country,” Lientz said.He said, “Fans from Texas, Washington, New Jersey and other places have already made hotel reservations in Owensboro for that weekend. Those are the die-hard fans.”Lientz said, “We expect new fans to come from Michigan,…
more: Mark Calitri reports: Hydroplane racing returns to Kentucky-10,000 plus expected!