Throughout various regions of the Bluegrass State, visitors are greeted with the picture-perfect sight of gently rolling, bluish-green landscapes.
In addition to its scenic bluegrass, more than 1,100 miles of waterways are located within the state’s borders, as well as the western edge of the Appalachians, more than 80,000 farms and a sizable chunk of forest land.
“Kentucky does have a lot of beautiful natural features,” says Karen Foley, neighborhood action coordinator for the city of Bowling Green, who executed an event there last October. “You have the rolling hills, you have the mountains in eastern Kentucky, you have the river towns, you have a nice mix of beautiful rural spaces, but then you also have some cool urban centers.”
In addition to the state’s geographic multiplicity, Barb Dozier, vice president of sales and marketing for the Northern Kentucky CVB, says Kentucky’s accessibility and quality of meeting sites, from Louisville and Lexington to Paducah and Covington, make it a natural choice for meeting planners.
“The state is highly accessible whether you are flying into Northern Kentucky or into Louisville or Lexington,” Dozier says, adding that the state’s variety of meetings destinations also boast attractive rates. “There are some wonderful quality meeting cities and they all have their own flavor. People are usually very pleasantly surprised at what we have to offer, and the cost of doing business in the state of Kentucky is remarkably different than other first-tier destinations.”
Northern Kentucky
As a border state during the Civil War, Kentucky holds a good deal of history, evident in Covington’s Riverside Drive Historic District. The 13-block district showcases historic statues, gardens and homes, such as the impressive Mimosa Mansion, the region’s largest single-family home.
Besides its historical draws, the Northern Kentucky region, located across the Ohio River from Cincinnati and consisting of Kenton, Boone and Campbell counties and cities such as Newport and Covington, is also in the midst of a growth spurt. More than $1 billion is being invested in residential real estate development along the Ohio riverfront, adding to the vibrancy of the destination.
The area, home of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, is conveniently located for groups and offers plenty of meeting space at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington and the Metropolitan and Education Training Services Center at Northern Kentucky University (NKU), which is located in Erlanger, just southwest of Covington, and accommodates up to 500 guests for group events.
In addition, construction is under way on the new Bank of Kentucky Center, located at NKU. The new structure, slated to open next spring, is expected to house a 9,400-seat arena for concerts, trade shows and sporting events. It will also feature about 10,000 square feet of meeting space, and there is talk of a hotel that may be built next to it, but plans have yet to be finalized.
Existing properties in the area include the well-appointed Holiday Inn Cincinnati–Riverfront, the Sheraton Cincinnati Airport Hotel and the Hilton Cincinnati Airport, all which have been recently renovated, as well as the Cincinnati Marriott at RiverCenter and the Embassy Suites Cincinnati RiverCenter.
In Newport, a popular option for off-site events is the Newport Aquarium, accommodating up to 1,500 people. The aquarium is situated at Newport on the Levee, a shopping, dining and entertainment district that has been a big hit with locals and visitors since it opened a few years ago.
Lexington
Lexington is known as the “Horse Capital of the World,” and according to Dennis Johnston, vice president of sales for the Lexington CVB, the fact that the destination has more than 100 horse farms within its city limits just adds to its already distinctive qualities.
“More and more planners are asking for something different and there is no other place in the U.S. like Lexington,” he says, adding that the slow pace of the city tends to soothe visitors. “It’s a relaxed area. Everything slows down, and it is just such a calming effect.”
Once attendees have gotten their share of relaxation, Marcia Shrout, assistant director for residence life at the University of Kentucky, who hosted a meeting in Lexington in February, says there is plenty to keep attendees busy.
“One of the beautiful things about Lexington is that there is quite a bit to do,” she says. “We have retail and convenient hotel locations, and there are so many things to do within a short driving distance.”
Popular attractions for groups include a visit to Keeneland, a thoroughbred race track, and the Kentucky Horse Park, the site of the 2010 World Equestrian Games, an event that Johnston hopes will pique the interest of meeting planners.
“We are using the World Equestrian Games to leverage new business,” he says, adding that although the city usually entertains state and regional associations of 600 to 1,200 people, the CVB now plans to pursue more corporate business.
Area meeting space heavyweights include the Lexington Convention Center and properties such as the Hyatt Regency Lexington, which plans to finish a $16.4 million renovation by 2009; the Radisson Plaza Lexington, which plans to complete a $6 million upgrade next year; the Crowne Plaza Hotel–The Campbell House, which completed a ballroom expansion in early April; and the Griffin Gate Marriott Resort, which completed an $18.5 million upgrade in April.
Louisville
Perhaps best known as the home of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby, Louisville also possesses all of the hallmarks of an enviable meetings destination: well-appointed venues, walkability and a growing infrastructure.
“We hear all of the time that Louisville is a very walkable city,” says Jim Wood, president and CEO of the Greater Louisville CVB, adding that the Kentucky International Convention Center is connected to three major hotels offering 2,300 rooms, and attendees enjoy the accessibility of nearby attractions such as the Fourth Street Live entertainment district. “Walk out of the convention center and you are at Fourth Street Live. You can walk to museums and attractions, and you don’t need a car to get around.”
On the development front, construction is scheduled to begin this year on the $465 million Museum Plaza, which will contain a Westin hotel and a public park.
The Kentucky Exposition Center also plans to open a new wing in October and is considering replacing its outdoor stadium with a 12,000-seat amphitheater.
Discussions are also under way for the new Louisville Arena. Construction is expected to begin in summer 2008 on the 700,000-square-foot arena, which will house 22,000 seats and an unspecified amount of group gathering space.
Meanwhile, the massive Galt House Hotel and Suites, with 120,000 square feet of meeting space, recently finished a facelift.
Aside from the Galt House, other top meetings hotels include the Louisville Marriott Downtown and the Hyatt Regency Louisville.
Off-site options in Louisville include hosting an event at Churchill Downs, the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, the Muhammad Ali Center, or one of the city’s many eateries, such as VINCENZo’s Italian Restaurant and Napa River Grill.
Bowling Green
Located about two hours south of Louisville is the city of Bowling Green, where Vicki Fitch, executive director of the Bowling Green Area CVB, says interesting off-site venues are a highlight of the destination.
“One thing that makes us ideal is that we not only have the traditional meeting sites, but we have some really outstanding unique meeting sites,” she says. “We have the National Corvette Museum here, and they are great at hosting receptions and events for groups and have an outdoor amphitheater that can hold over 10,000 people.
“We also have the Kentucky Museum on the campus of Western Kentucky University, and they have large spaces for meetings,” she adds. “Then one of our more unique sites is Lost River Cave. It is inside the mouth of a cave, and groups can have dinners and dances down there.”
Bowling Green traditionally entertains association and religious groups of around 300 people at the 60,000-square-foot Sloan Convention Center and the Carroll Knicely Conference Center at Western Kentucky University.
The city boasts more than 2,500 hotel rooms at properties such as the Holiday Inn University Plaza–Bowling Green, the Courtyard Bowling Green Convention Center, the Hampton Inn Bowling Green, and the newly renovated Baymont Inn and Suites Bowling Green.
A new Hilton Garden Inn is slated to open in September, and Western Kentucky University’s Van Meter Auditorium is scheduled to finish a renovation in fall 2009.
Paducah
West of Bowling Green, visitors will find themselves in Paducah, a community of 25,000 people that boasts an art scene and an historical atmosphere.
“Paducah is very unexpected,” says Rosemarie Steele, marketing director for the Paducah CVB. “It has a real ambience about it—an eclectic mix of preservation and progress. You are surrounded by a beautiful setting with 19th century architecture, and you can feel the creative spirit of the setting.
“We have all of the amenities, and the quality of our attractions is what you would find in a big city, but there is no rush, no hassle, no traffic, and no disappointments,” she adds.
The city’s artistic culture can be explored at the galleries in the Lower Town Arts District and at the Museum of the American Quilter’s Society, which can be used for group events.
The Luther F. Carson Four Rivers Center, a multipurpose venue staging performances and cultural events, also offers several facilities for private gatherings.
The Julian M. Carroll Convention Center and the Paducah Expo Center are the destination’s largest group facilities, and meeting space is available at hotels such as JR’s Executive Inn Paducah Riverfront, which plans to begin a guest room renovation this summer; the Courtyard Paducah West; and the recently renovated Paducah Drury Inn.
Upcoming hotels include a Hampton Inn, which at press time was scheduled to open in mid-April, and a Residence Inn, slated to open in August.
For More Info
Bowling Green Area CVB 270.782.0800
www.visitbgky.com
Greater Louisville CVB 502.584.2121
www.gotolouisville.com
Kentucky Department of Tourism 502.564.4930
www.kentuckytourism.com
Lexington CVB 859.233.1221
www.visitlex.com
Northern Kentucky CVB 859.261.4677
www.nkycvb.com
Paducah CVB 270.443.8784
www.paducah-tourism.org
