Mark Calitri

 Sports tourism is changing, and Owensboro is changing with it. For years, communities competed for baseball, softball, basketball and soccer tournaments. Those sports will always matter. But today's fastest-growing opportunities look different, and Owensboro is ready. We're investing in traditional sports while welcoming what's next—pickleball, cornhole, wrestling, cheer and dance, esports, fishing tournaments and other emerging competitions. If people compete, we want Owensboro on the list. Why? Because every tournament brings visitors. They fill hotel rooms, eat in our restaurants, shop in our stores and discover everything else our community has to offer. That's why sports tourism is economic development. And the momentum keeps growing. New state and national events continue choosing Owensboro. The Bluegrass Fieldhouse and Ben Hawes Pickleball Complex will help us compete for even more regional and national championships. Others are noticing. The Owensboro Times re...

 Every community has a choice. You can spend your time talking about what's wrong, or you can roll up your sleeves and help build something better. When I look at Owensboro and Daviess County today, I see a community that's moving forward. New attractions. National events. Record tourism. New investment. More opportunities for families and businesses than ever before. None of that happened by accident. It happened because people cared enough to get involved. Business leaders, volunteers, elected officials, nonprofits, and countless others have worked together to make Owensboro stronger. They don't always agree on every decision, but they share something much more important—a belief that our community's future is worth investing in. That's why I believe our best days are still ahead. There will always be challenges, but I like our direction. I like our people. Most of all, I like what happens when a community comes together with a shared purpose. Thank you for believ...

 If you want to know whether a community is moving in the right direction, don't listen to opinions. Look at the results. This past year, Owensboro celebrated record hotel occupancy, welcomed more visitors than ever, and saw events like Burger Week, Barbecue & Barrels, and Illuminate continue to grow. Every one of those successes brought new people to our community and supported local hotels, restaurants, retailers, and small businesses. Tourism isn't just about attracting visitors. It's about creating jobs, generating new revenue, and improving the quality of life for the people who call Owensboro home. None of this happened by accident. It happened because community leaders, volunteers, local businesses, elected officials, and organizations across Owensboro worked together with one goal in mind—to make our community stronger. I'm proud of what we've accomplished, but records aren't the finish line. They're a reminder of what's possible when a commu...

  If you haven't been to Owensboro lately, you're missing one of the most exciting transformations happening in Kentucky. A new downtown hotel is attracting more conventions and visitors. The Bluegrass Fieldhouse is preparing to open its doors. Churchill Downs Owensboro Racing & Gaming has added another major attraction, and Maui's Indoor Theme Park is bringing even more families to our community. At the same time, events like Burger Week, Barbecue & Barrels, and Illuminate continue to set records and introduce new visitors to everything Owensboro has to offer. None of this happened overnight. It's the result of years of planning, investment, and people who believed Owensboro and Daviess County could compete with anyone. Every visitor who stays in our hotels, eats in our restaurants, shops in our local businesses, or attends one of our events helps strengthen our economy and our community. I'm proud of how far we've come, but I'm even more excited ab...

  Welcome to the New MarkCalitri.com I'm excited to announce the launch of MarkCalitri.com , my new home for leadership insights, tourism, destination marketing, economic development, and community growth. This site brings together my latest blogs, videos, and ideas in one place. Whether I'm sharing lessons from leadership, highlighting the power of tourism, or discussing the future of Owensboro and communities across the country, you'll find it here. My goal is simple: share practical ideas that help leaders think differently, solve problems, and build stronger organizations and communities. If you've followed my work on Blogger, thank you. Going forward, you'll find all new content at MarkCalitri.com . Thanks for visiting, and I hope you'll check back often as new articles and videos are added. Mark Calitri President & CEO, Visit Owensboro Leadership • Tourism • Destination Marketing • Economic Development

Owensboro is changing. New attractions. National sporting events. More visitors. More investment. More momentum. That's why I recently wrote a Letter to the Editor for the Messenger-Inquirer . I believe Owensboro's best days are still ahead—not because of one project, but because of everything happening across our community. We're attracting World Championships and national sporting events that fill our hotels, restaurants, and local businesses. The Bluegrass Fieldhouse and the Ben Hawes Pickleball Complex will create even more opportunities to welcome visitors from across Kentucky and the nation. Every event brings new economic impact and introduces more people to everything Owensboro has to offer. Tourism is much more than vacations. It's economic development. For many visitors, their first trip to Owensboro becomes the beginning of something bigger—a return visit, a new business investment, or even a place to call home. None of this happens by accident. It happe...

 When a national organization wants to bring more events back, that's a sign you're doing something right. The American Cornhole Organization announced it hopes to make Owensboro an every-other-year home for its World Championships while adding another major event in January. That's more visitors, more hotel rooms filled, and more dollars spent in our local businesses. "The Bluegrass Fieldhouse will be a game changer for our community," said Visit Owensboro President Mark Calitri. "While construction delays impacted some bookings this year, demand remains strong, and the facility is already about 65% booked for 2027." With the Ben Hawes Pickleball Complex opening this fall and more tournaments on the way, Owensboro continues to strengthen its position as one of Kentucky's leading sports tourism destinations. Read the full Messenger-Inquirer story: https://www.messenger-inquirer.com/news/local/cornhole-tournament-wants-more-events-in-city/article_ea25...