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.

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.

Watch the Full Presentation on YouTube

▶️https://youtu.be/Nsoece-enSw

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