Mark Calitri: Why Owensboro's Best Days Are Still Ahead

 If you've looked around Owensboro lately, you've probably noticed something different.

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 happens because businesses, local governments, community organizations, volunteers, and residents continue working toward a common goal: making Owensboro an even better place to live, work, and visit.

I'm optimistic about where we're headed, and I hope you'll take a moment to read my Letter to the Editor in the Messenger-Inquirer.

Read the full letter here:

https://www.messenger-inquirer.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/owensboros-best-days-are-still-ahead/article_96b954f0-87ae-5b2d-830b-da4f3d2f2389.html

Mark Calitri: Owensboro's Sports Tourism Momentum Keeps Growing

 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_ea254e4a-94aa-5d76-adff-bcfdbf08bab7.html

Mark Calitri: Why Workforce Development Starts with Opportunity | GRADD

 

Mark Calitri: Workforce Development Starts with Opportunity

Everyone wants employees with experience. The challenge is someone has to give them that first opportunity.

That's why programs like GRADD matter.

At Visit Owensboro, our interns don't sit in the corner and watch. They go to work on day one. They attend meetings, solve problems and help deliver projects that make a difference in our community.

This year, Nicole helped support a record-breaking Owensboro Burger Week that included 57 restaurants and more than 78,000 burgers sold. Lucas has played an important role in helping prepare Kentucky's newest indoor sports facility, the Bluegrass Fieldhouse, while also helping launch the Bluegrass Clash, an event that brought thousands of athletes, families and visitors to Owensboro.

That's real experience. You can't learn that sitting in a classroom.

Programs like GRADD help open the door. Young professionals gain practical experience, employers develop future talent and communities build a stronger workforce. It's a win for everyone involved.

I've always looked at internships as more than filling a temporary position. They give us a chance to invest in someone, teach them, challenge them and see what they're capable of. At the same time, they learn about our organization, our culture and whether this is a place where they can build a career.

The best workforce development doesn't start after graduation. It starts when someone is willing to give a young professional a chance to learn, contribute and grow.

That's how careers begin. That's how businesses find great employees. And that's how communities build a stronger future.

Watch the full video to learn why workforce development and the partnership with GRADD are making a difference across Owensboro and Western Kentucky.  https://youtu.be/KB0ThlNm2gQ

About Mark Calitri

Mark Calitri is President and CEO of Visit Owensboro, where he focuses on tourism, workforce development, leadership, economic development and building stronger communities through strategic growth and real results.

 

Owensboro Tourism Update 2026: Mark Calitri on Why Owensboro's Best Days Are Still Ahead

If you asked me where Owensboro is headed, my answer is simple. Our best days are still ahead.

I recently had the opportunity to share that message during a Rooster Booster presentation. As President & CEO of Visit Owensboro, I've watched our community continue to raise the bar. The momentum we're seeing today didn't happen overnight. It's the result of people who believe in Owensboro, invest in Owensboro, and refuse to settle for average.

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One of the clearest signs of that momentum is Owensboro tourism. Visitors are filling our hotels at record levels. They're eating in our restaurants, shopping in our stores, attending festivals, competing in sporting events, and supporting local businesses throughout the year. Every visitor who chooses Owensboro, Kentucky, brings new dollars into our community that help support jobs, small businesses, and future investment.

We've seen tremendous progress over the past few years. A new downtown hotel has expanded our ability to attract larger conventions and sporting events. Churchill Downs Owensboro Racing & Gaming has added another reason for people to visit. Maui's Indoor Theme Park continues to bring families to our community. The Bluegrass Fieldhouse will soon create even more opportunities to host regional and national tournaments that introduce thousands of athletes and their families to Owensboro.

Our signature events continue to grow as well. Burger Week set another record with more than 78,000 burgers sold. Barbecue & Barrels has become one of the premier bourbon events in the country. Every one of those successes strengthens the work Visit Owensboro is doing to position our community as one of Kentucky's leading destinations for tourism, conventions, meetings, and sporting events.

Tourism is often misunderstood. It isn't simply about vacations. Tourism creates opportunities. It supports hotel employees, restaurant servers, retail workers, attractions, event organizers, and countless local businesses. When visitors spend money here, that investment stays here. It strengthens our local economy and improves the quality of life for everyone who calls Owensboro home.

I'm also proud of how our community continues to work together. Business owners, volunteers, nonprofit organizations, elected leaders, event organizers, and community partners all play a role in our success. No single organization builds a destination alone. Communities grow when people share a common vision and stay focused on moving forward.

That's why I'm optimistic about the future of Owensboro tourism. We have new attractions, growing sports tourism, expanding convention business, and a community that continues to think bigger. Those are the ingredients that create long-term success.

Thank you for taking a few minutes to watch the presentation. I'd love to hear what opportunity excites you most about the future of Owensboro.

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Watch the Full Presentation on YouTube

▶️https://youtu.be/Nsoece-enSw

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About Mark Calitri

Mark Calitri is President & CEO of Visit Owensboro, the official destination marketing organization for Owensboro and Daviess County, Kentucky. Through destination marketing, tourism development, sports tourism, conventions, and strategic leadership, Mark works to attract visitors, strengthen the local economy, and position Owensboro, Kentucky as one of the region's premier travel destinations.

Mark Calitri: Downtown Summer Jam and Bluegrass Clash Sports Summit Prove Owensboro’s Sports Tourism Strategy

 Owensboro is built for big weekends, and this one shows why. The Bluegrass Clash Sports Summit and Downtown Summer Jam are bringing thousands of athletes, families, and fans into Owensboro, filling hotel rooms, restaurants, and the riverfront with nonstop activity.

As President & CEO of Visit Owensboro, I see this weekend as a clear example of how our sports tourism strategy is working. The Bluegrass Clash Sports Summit stacks multiple tournaments and events across the city, while Downtown Summer Jam delivers a free riverfront concert, food trucks, and family‑friendly games on the Ohio River. That combination of competition and entertainment is exactly how we turn first‑time visitors into repeat guests.

Downtown Summer Jam, now in its fifth year, returns with a national touring act on the riverfront and a full slate of vendors and activities. For athletes and families in town for the Bluegrass Clash Sports Summit, it means they can walk from the hotel to the riverfront, grab dinner, and enjoy live music without ever getting in the car. That’s the Owensboro experience we are selling.

Visit Owensboro has been intentional about building a year‑round calendar that includes sports, bluegrass music, bourbon, and riverfront events. Weekends like this don’t happen by accident—they are the result of long‑term planning, strong partnerships, and a community that understands the value of tourism.

Owensboro’s message is simple: we are a serious sports destination and a fun river city. I’m Mark Calitri, and this weekend is one more reason teams and event planners are putting Owensboro on their short list.

Coverage: “Downtown Summer Jam, Bluegrass Clash Sports Summit to bring thousands to Owensboro this weekend” – Owensboro Times https://www.owensborotimes.com/news/2026/07/downtown-summer-jam-bluegrass-clash-sports-summit-to-bring-thousands-to-owensboro-this-weekend/

Faith-Based Travel Leaders Choose Owensboro for National Conference | Mark Calitri

 

Faith-Based Travel Leaders Choose Owensboro for National Conference

When people think about tourism, they often picture families on vacation or sports tournaments.

But there's another market quietly making a tremendous impact across America: faith-based travel.

This August, Owensboro will welcome Going On Faith, one of the nation's leading organizations serving faith-based travel planners and program directors. The national conference will bring travel professionals from across the country to experience everything our community has to offer.

This is a significant opportunity for Owensboro.

According to the Travel Industry Association of America, religious groups travel more frequently than the general population and often travel together on organized group tours. Those planners influence where thousands of travelers will visit in the years ahead.

During their stay, attendees will experience Owensboro's riverfront, local restaurants, museums, Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum, Western Kentucky Botanical Garden, Smothers Park, Saint Stephen Cathedral, and our vibrant downtown.

Just as important, they'll experience something that can't be listed in a brochure—our people.

Every conversation, every welcome, every meal, and every handshake helps shape the impression they take home.

Tourism is built on relationships and reputation. When planners leave believing Owensboro is a destination they can confidently recommend, the benefits extend far beyond one conference. They create future visits, future group tours, and new opportunities for our local businesses.

We're honored that Going On Faith selected Owensboro for its national conference and look forward to welcoming these travel leaders to our community.

This is another opportunity to showcase what makes Owensboro special and continue building our reputation as one of America's most welcoming destinations.

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About Mark Calitri

Mark Calitri is President and CEO of Visit Owensboro and co-author of the Winning Leadership Playbook. He writes about leadership, destination marketing, tourism strategy, economic development, organizational culture, and business growth, sharing practical ideas that help communities and organizations build stronger brands, attract visitors, and create lasting success.

 

Mark Calitri: The Front-Page

Test That Defines Leadership and Integrity

Every day we make decisions. Some are big. Most are small.

The interesting thing is that our reputation isn't built by one defining moment. It's built by the choices we make when no one is watching.

I've always liked what I call the Front Page Test.

Imagine everything you did today appeared on tomorrow's front page of the newspaper. Every decision. Every conversation. Every action.

Would you be proud of the story?

Would your family, your coworkers, and your friends see someone whose actions matched their values?

That's a question every leader should ask before making an important decision.

Integrity isn't about protecting your image. It's about earning trust. Trust is built one decision at a time, and over the years those decisions become your personal brand.

People remember how you lead. They remember whether you kept your word, treated others with respect, and did the right thing when it wasn't the easiest choice.

Today, challenge yourself to pass the Front Page Test.

Make the phone call.

Keep your commitment.

Own your mistake.

Do the right thing even when nobody is keeping score.

Because one day your reputation will tell your story long before you have the chance to.

Watch the Video

Watch Mark Calitri explain the Front Page Test and why integrity is one of the most valuable leadership traits you can develop.

▶ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/klfIx-BN8uk?si=lpXXy5VTVbFYVlEP

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About Mark Calitri

Mark Calitri is President and CEO of Visit Owensboro and author of the Winning Leadership Playbook, sharing practical insights on leadership, tourism, marketing, organizational culture, and business success.