Trade Show News

Downtown Louisville is anticipating significant hospitality growth with plans for a 1,000-room convention hotel near the Humana Tower and a 418-room JW Marriott slated to open in 2027, a block away on 4th Street. These developments are strategically located across from the Kentucky International Convention Center, aiming to enhance accommodation options for convention attendees.

Air Canada will begin seasonal nonstop service between Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport and Toronto Pearson on April 28, 2027, marking Louisville's first regularly scheduled international passenger service. This new route, supported by the Louisville Hotel Partnership, aims to drive visitation, room nights, and economic impact for the city's visitor economy.

Louisville Tourism is sponsoring Season 12 of the PCMA Convene podcast, highlighting the city's commitment to the business events industry. This sponsorship aims to reach qualified meeting organizers and promote Louisville as a premier destination.

An article discussing hotel investments near racetracks highlights that Louisville attracts visitors for reasons beyond racing, including convention facilities. It emphasizes that hotels with nearby convention facilities have more ways to fill rooms when the racing calendar is quiet. This indicates the significant role of convention business in Louisville's hospitality sector.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg confirmed that the vacant Humana Tower will be converted into a 1,000-room convention center hotel, a project expected to attract new meetings and events to the city. This development is crucial for enhancing Louisville's infrastructure to host larger conventions, which the city currently lacks the capacity for.

GoToLouisville.com lists its current leadership team, which includes Cleo Battle as President & CEO and Jason Sojka as Vice President of Convention Development. These individuals are instrumental in strengthening Louisville's economy, culture, and quality of life through their efforts in tourism and convention promotion.

AACON-RavenVolt JV, LLC, a joint venture including Louisville, KY-based AACON General Contractors, has been awarded a construction contract by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District. The contract is for the construction of an advanced microgrid at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

Michael Sullivan, who spent ten years as senior manager of events and guest services at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, has been appointed General Manager of Marshall Health Network Arena. His extensive experience in venue management and event operations will be crucial in his new role.

Nextech3D.ai will showcase its AI-powered event technology at Expo! Expo! IAEE's Annual Meeting & Exhibition in Milwaukee, an event that brings together professionals from across the exhibitions and events ecosystem. This highlights the growing trend of AI and digital innovation in the event industry.

Michael Sullivan, who previously served as senior manager of events and guest services at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville for a decade, has been appointed General Manager of Marshall Health Network Arena in Huntington, West Virginia. This move highlights a significant personnel change for a former Louisville venue professional.

The Kentucky Chamber's 80th Annual Meeting Dinner is being held at the Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC) in Louisville. The event has a room cutoff date of November 10, 2026, for lodging at the Louisville Marriott Downtown and Omni Louisville Hotel, indicating a current or very recent event.

The 2027 Creating Change Conference, hosted by the National LGBTQ Task Force, will take place January 27–31, 2027, in Louisville, Kentucky. This five-day conference offers workshops, training sessions, and networking opportunities for 2SLGBTQ+ activism and leadership. UFCW OUTreach is sponsoring members to attend this event.

Equip Expo 2026, held in Louisville, attracted approximately 30,000 attendees and featured 1.3 million square feet of exhibits, marking its fifth consecutive sellout. The event showcased new compact equipment, particularly stand-on mini skid steers from manufacturers like John Deere, Manitou, and Gehl.

METALCON, the metal construction industry's premier event, has announced its 2027 show will take place from October 26-28 at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville. The event offers attendees opportunities to explore beyond the show floor, including iconic Louisville attractions.

METALCON, a premier event for the metal construction industry, will hold its 2027 edition from October 26-28 at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville. The announcement follows METALCON's 35th anniversary event in Orlando, which saw increases in exhibiting companies and verified on-site attendance.

The Kentucky International Convention Center in downtown Louisville has completed a significant $207 million renovation and expansion. The transformation enhanced its facilities and services, including improved energy efficiency and an enhanced visitor experience, making it a premier venue for events.

The Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC), located in downtown Louisville, is highlighting its $207 million renovation and expansion. This transformation has made it a top-tier convention center, offering a full range of world-class amenities and unique features.

The Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC) is undergoing a multimillion-dollar expansion and renovation project. Phase I, a $180 million, 350,000-square-foot multipurpose building, is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, with events starting in 2027. Phase II will redevelop the West Wing, West Hall, and Pavilion into a 249,000-square-foot multipurpose wing.

The Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC) is undergoing planned expansions, with 300,000 square feet of new exhibit space anticipated for the 2027 Equip Exposition. Further improvements, including an anticipated new West Wing in 2029, will add over 500,000 square feet of new exhibit space.

Work has begun on a new multipurpose building at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, as part of a multimillion-dollar expansion and renovation project that started in August 2024. Crews demolished parts of the existing facility, including Newmarket Hall, to pave the way for Phase I. The project aims to enhance the venue's capacity and event mix.