Owensboro may not be on everybody’s radar yet, but according to President and CEO of the Kentucky Travel Industry Association (KTIA) Hank Phillips, the city is absolutely doing something right. Phillips encouraged the crowd at Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce’s Rooster Booster by highlighting all of Owensboro’s successes in bringing more attention to the city.
Mark Calitri, President and CEO of the Owensboro Convention and Visitors Bureau, played a brand-new promotional video highlighting many of Owensboro’s best qualities. The three-minute video–at times, moving, while upbeat and inspirational at others–included clips of the Owensboro Air Show, local businesses and restaurants, the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra, Kentucky Motor Speedway, the downtown riverfront, ROMP, and, of course, barbeque, bluegrass and bourbon.
The video has already gotten two million hits since being uploaded, Calitri said.
“How many people out here knew Owensboro had that much going on? And we couldn’t even get everything in the video,” Calitri told the crowd. “After watching that video, can’t you sense the buzz and excitement of Owensboro, and isn’t it a great place to visit and want to work and live?”
Even more, Calitri said local tourism is expected to accomplish even more in the upcoming years.
“For the years 2021, 2022 and 2023, we’re on pace to have record-breaking years right here in Owensboro,” Calitri said. “We’re working hard to bring meetings, associations, conventions conferences because those are the most profitable opportunities for our community.”
One of the biggest highlights of the event was the announcement that Owensboro was one of 10 cities selected from across the country as a Brand USA, the leading marketing agency for the United States, top 10 music city in the entire U.S. A launch event will be held Thursday at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum.
“Next Thursday, it’s Owensboro’s time to shine on a national and international level,” Calitri said. “We’re going to have Brand USA folks here in town, we’re going to have the commissioner of tourism — a lot of folks are going to be looking at us next Thursday.
Phillips had nothing but positive comments to say about Owensboro and its progress toward becoming a tourist destination.
“Honestly, sincerely, I have fallen in love with Owensboro and the people who live here,” Phillips said.
Phillips said Owensboro has played a huge role in Kentucky’s elevation as a tourist and travel state.
“If Kentucky tourism were a basketball team, we would be on a major, major winning streak. And on that team–the standout player and the star–would be Owensboro,” Phillips said.
Of the cities chosen by Brand USA’s top 10 music cities campaign, Owensboro was among cities such as Austin, Minneapolis, Detroit, Chicago, Las Vegas, Miami, West Hollywood, Jackson and New Orleans.
“This is the national tourism office for America who promotes America as a travel destination,” Phillips said. “I’m telling you — that’s big.”
Phillips said Owensboro’s brand of bourbon, bluegrass and barbeque could not be stronger because of its genuine authenticity and, when people come to visit, its ability to fulfill the promises made.
“Highly skilled and well-paying jobs are so much a part of this tourism industry,” Phillips said. “There’s a bottom-line reason we do what we do with such energy to make tourism great is you. The people who live where the visitors visit — that really and truly is the bottom line of the tourism industry.”
