Exactly how does one pronounce Louisville? 

There’s Looavul, Luhvul, Loueville, Looaville, Looeyville, even Lewisville. 

The city has embraced the debate as the different pronunciations can be found on posters and t-shirts throughout the city. 

“We’ve heard them all,” Doug Bennet, Executive Vice President for Louisville Tourism said with a hearty laugh. “But you know, as long as we can get visitors to our city, we’ll be ok with how they say it.” 

Louisville, the largest city in Kentucky, has been on the upswing of late. The home of the Kentucky Derby horse race drew nearly 257,000 visitors in 2023 resulting in an economic impact of just under $402 million. In all, the city’s top 20 events that year drew 2.351 million visitors for a boost of nearly $683 million in economic impact. 

Group business is coming on strong, as well. According to Louisville Tourism, the official destination marketing organization for the city, there were 587 major events in Louisville in 2023, bringing in nearly 3.2 million attendees. The city had 805,415 hosted room night that year. The attendee count was the third highest in the last 10 years and the room nights total was the second most since 2013. 

While the Kentucky Derby is the city’s most well-known event, and a sought-after venue for meeting planners to host events, Louisville has much more to offer, from the Muhammad Ali Center and Louisville Slugger Museum to the birthplace of bourbon. With a location within a day’s drive of more than half of the U.S. population, it's easy to see why Louisville is rising as a desired destination for group business. 

The city invested in upgrading its infrastructure with improvements to the Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC), which underwent a $207 million expansion and renovation, positioning the city as a top-tier destination for conferences, trade shows and other large events, said Nicole Kubitz, Director of Sales & Marketing at the Omni Louisville Hotel.   

“In the past 6 years, Louisville has made significant strides in embracing and growing group business by focusing on several key areas that enhance its appeal as a meeting and event destination,” she said. “I’m incredibly excited and inspired to see the consistent growth in new business considering our destination from association to corporate groups.” 

With improved outdoor spaces, new and diverse events, and a growing number of Bourbon experiences like Bob Dylan’s Last Refuge, Oxmoor Farm’s Bourbon Tour & Tasting and high-end restaurant & tasting room Monk’s Road Boiler House, visitors can get a taste of an entire new Bourbon City. 

Bourbon is in the fabric of Louisville. Bennet said the city embraced Bourbon nearly two decades ago and now offers 12 experiences on the Bourbon Trail, which is featured in downtown. While the distilling heritage dates to the 1780s, the city now boasts bourbon-themed hotels, festivals and restaurants to go along with the tasting rooms and retail stores. 

Bennet said the city expects to eclipse more than 2.5 million visitors tied to bourbon and “we’re just scratching the surface.” 

Bourbon has a passionate following for a beverage that has 95% of its production in Kentucky. 

“People coming every month of the year to experience bourbon,” he said. “And now we’ve found a way to incorporate the experience for meeting attendees. It’s not only about the taste, but about the history and the process.” 

Then there’s the Kentucky Derby. This year’s event was the 150th running of the historic horse race, the longest continually held major sporting event in the U.S. Churchill Downs recently underwent at $200 million renovation and the National Historic Landmark is popular with groups. 

“The race may take place on that first Saturday in May, but Churchill Downs has become a must-see location all year,” Bennet said. “One of the things we’re all very proud of it how we’ve worked together to create a very special experience for people to bring groups out there.” 

Lance George, Chief Marketing Officer at The Galt House also emphasized the city’s investment in infrastructure and venues as key to helping grow the appeal of the destination, citing the renovation of KICC, the development of the Norton Sports and Learning Complex, and the soon-to-begin $393 million expansion of the Kentucky Exposition Center in 2025. Those investments, along with growth in hotel supply such as the opening of the Omni Louisville in 2018, and a $100 million investment into improvement at The Galt House. 

“Louisville is known for its Southern hospitality and vibrant culture, offering a welcoming environment for event attendees,” he said. “The city has a rich history, diverse art scenes, world class horse racing and the Bourbon Trail which creates a memorable experience for event attendees that they can’t find anywhere else in the world.” 

Why Louisville 

• Tourism is the third-largest industry in the state and Louisville welcomes 19 million visitors annually. 

• Direct flights to 35 domestic destinations from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. 

• Bourbon City features a 1.7-mile stretch where you can find seven Bourbon distilleries.  

What’s New in Louisville 

• The Pursuit Spirits Visitor Experience is scheduled to open in early 2025. Bourbon Pursuit has grown to become the largest whiskey podcast in the world with over 1.2 million streams annually, and its founders have created their own Whiskey company, Pursuit Spirits. With a new brand home place opening on Louisville’s Main Street the experience will allow guests to fill their bottle directly from the barrel, do private single barrel tastings, visit a basement-level cocktail bar and attend live recordings of the Bourbon Pursuit podcast.  

• Capture the holiday spirit at Kentucky Kingdom - Christmas at the Kingdom. This new annual event at Kentucky’s largest amusement park is an $8 million investment will immerse guests into a joyful winter wonderland with more than 1 million glowing lights, Santa’s Village and a Snow Zone, featuring a four-story, 175-foot-long snow tubing hill constructed in the drained wave pool.  

• The $80 million Derby City Gaming Downtown in the heart of downtown features slots-like historical horse racing machines and three unique bar concepts: a main-level sports bar with a stage for live entertainment, a premium bourbon library and an elegant wine & charcuterie lounge. 

SEE 

The Spirit of Kentucky Exhibition at Frazier Museum 

The official first stop of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, this exhibition celebrates the history, craft and culture of bourbon whiskey - America's only native spirit. 

Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory 

Where Louisville Slugger is not new, the organizers have created an elevated, truly unique, special access tour.  Participate in the All-Star Experience with an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour museum. This unique experience allows you to explore areas not accessible to the public, including the Bat Vault, where you can see over 3,000 original bat models used by legendary players. During the tour, you’ll get to witness the bat-making process up close, visit the Archive Room to see historic contracts and bat record cards, and even step into the Slugger Hitting Lab to learn about the latest innovations in bat design. Each participant also receives a personalized, full-sized Louisville Slugger bat as a keepsake. 

Kentucky Derby Museum 

Experience the new exhibits, including the new short film "Down the Stretch," and the new Fashion Exhibit "See & Be Seen." “Down the Stretch” celebrates the 150th anniversary of the Kentucky Derby. It takes viewers on a journey through the different decades of this historic race, capturing the electrifying Derby experience. “See and Be Seen” explores the evolution of Derby fashion over the past 150 years. It highlights the trends and trailblazers who have turned the Derby into a major fashion event. The exhibit features a collection of outfits, including those worn by notable figures, and items on loan from various donors. 

For more activities and ideas, ask your ALHI GSO about working with Hosts Global Destination Services and Hosts Louisville, a Hosts Global Member. 

DO 

Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. 

Whiskey Thief Nulu (a Louisville neighborhood) offers the same “tasting from the barrel” experience as its Franklin County distillery, offering every guest the opportunity to blend and fill their own bottle, straight from the barrels, at barrel strength.  

Derby City Gaming Downtown

In the heart of downtown features slots-like historical horse racing machines and three unique bar concepts: a main-level sports bar with a stage for live entertainment, a premium bourbon library and an elegant wine & charcuterie lounge. 

NuLu Neighborhood 

Sped an afternoon exploring the hottest neighborhood in Louisville, NuLu, filled with distilleries, restaurants, bars and local shopping. One new location to check out is The Last Refuge, located in a historic church.  Known as the "High Church of Bourbon," it features an extensive bourbon collection, including Bob Dylan's Heaven's Door Bourbon.  Craft cocktails, small plates and shareable pizzas, all set within a beautifully restored church with original stained-glass windows and ornate woodwork from the 1880s. 

For more activities and ideas, ask your ALHI GSO about working with Hosts Global Destination Services and Hosts Louisville, a Hosts Global Member. 

EAT 

Monk's Road Boiler House 

Monk's Road Boiler House is a luxury-style chophouse from Nelson-County-based Log Still Distillery. The ideas is to blend the deep heritage of the bourbon industry with the finest culinary experience in town. The restaurant offers steaks, fresh seafood, homemade pastas and more handcrafted bites made from the finest ingredients. The restaurant spans two floors and there is a hidden speakeasy in the basement. 

Nami Modern Korean Steakhouse 

The brainchild of Chef Edward Lee, Nami is his first venture back into his heritage cuisine since his days in New York City. Nami dining is a different type of Korean dining. Think of it as an elevated Korean steakhouse. Having topped the list of USAToday’s Best Restaurants of 2024, this is a must-visit Korean restaurant in Louisville. 

North of Bourbon 

This restaurant was voted one of the 50 Best restaurants in the U.S. by The New York Times. It offers an elevated mix of New Orleans, Louisville and Kentucky bourbon in a warm and friendly atmosphere. 

For more activities and ideas, ask your ALHI GSO about working with Hosts Global Destination Services and Hosts Louisville, a Hosts Global Member. 

STAY/MEET

Louisville is home to two ALHI Members, The Galt House and the Omni Louisville Hotel. Both embrace the spirt of Louisville in their properties. 

The Galt House 

George shared how The Galt House Hotel has incorporated Louisville’s rich history starting with the name of the hotel; the original Galt House was built in 1835. The history is incorporated in the hotel’s restaurants, such as Swizzle, the upscale  restaurant located on the 25th floor which is named after a 1950’s supper club; Walker’s Exchange, a full-service restaurant that brings back the history of the original restaurant from 1834 through its menu; and Jockey Silks, one of the first stops on the urban bourbon trail, which offers 12 private barrel selects and over 150 different bourbons.  

The recent $100 million renovation was done mostly through local Louisvillians. 

“Most importantly the Southern hospitality that makes Louisville unique is found at The Galt House with the average tenure of our associate being 15 years which is very uncommon in the industry,” he said. “We have multiple generations who have worked for the company and celebrate several associates with over 40 years working for the company. Our associates are the authentic experience that makes us legendary.” 

The property boasts 130,000 square feet of meeting and event space and more than 1,300 guest rooms.  

Omni Louisville Hotel 

Kubitza said the interior designers at waldrop + nichols studio partnered with Omni’s Vice President of Interior Design, Laura McCoy, to ensure the property paid homage to all that is Louisville by using three main elements that can be felt throughout the property: bourbon, culture and water.    

A nod to Louisville’s favorite beverage, bourbon, is exhibited in many areas throughout the property including the commissioned Vendome Copper still dome that is installed at one end of the lobby. A bourbon barrel wall is located behind the still creating a favorite location to take photos.   

The culture of Louisville’s history, particularly around Ali, the Kentucky Derby, and Louisville Slugger, is incorporated in guest room elements, event spaces, and in the dining and retail outlets. 

“Finally, water is a key element in the hotel as a nod to not only the Ohio River but also Louisville Water Company, who was on our land prior to Omni Louisville’s construction and the namesake of the hotel’s Pool & Bar,” she said. The Ohio River is represented in the lobby with pendants that state separate phrases referring to the Ohio River: “La Belle Riviere.” “The Beautiful River,” and “Soul of Louisville.”    

The property features 65,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including 20,000 and 10,000 square foot ballrooms, and 18 additional breakout rooms. The hotel has 612 guest rooms and suites. 

For more activities and ideas, ask your ALHI GSO about working with Hosts Global Destination Services and Hosts Louisville, a Hosts Global Member.