Trade Show News

A new analysis by HVS shows that events at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville increase market occupancy by approximately ten percentage points. Convention centers play a crucial role in stabilizing and enhancing hotel market performance by attracting demand during both low and high occupancy periods, leading to significant incremental hotel revenue.

Events at the Kentucky Exposition Center significantly impact Louisville's hotel market, increasing market occupancy by approximately ten percentage points. This highlights the crucial role convention activity plays in stabilizing and enhancing hotel market performance and overall lodging revenues within the destination.

Angel's Envy Distillery in Louisville is offering tour discounts and personalized commemorative bourbon bottles for attendees of the 107th American Legion National Convention. This initiative aims to enhance the visitor experience and contribute to the local economy during the convention.

Angel's Envy Distillery in Louisville is offering tour discounts and commemorative bourbon bottles for pre-order to attendees of the 107th American Legion National Convention, which will be held in late August and early September. The distillery is an easy walk from the Kentucky International Convention Center.

Louisville Tourism has launched 'The Bourbon City Companion,' a curated guidebook to enhance visitor experience and promote the city's bourbon culture. Tourism, the third-largest industry in Louisville, attracted 19 million visitors in 2025, supporting over 70,000 jobs and contributing an estimated $4.4 billion to the economy.

Kentucky Venues is renewing its push for a proposed $275 million underground tunnel project connecting downtown Louisville to the Kentucky Exposition Center. The initiative aims to improve mobility and support economic development for the city's convention, sports, and entertainment destinations, despite an earlier veto of feasibility study funding.

White Lodging is seeking a Senior Sales Manager for the Louisville Marriott Downtown, a full-service hotel directly connected via skywalk to the Kentucky International Convention Center. This role is crucial for building client relationships and selling hotel services for conferences, conventions, and business travel. The position requires understanding market trends and competitor strengths to inform sales strategies.

Deckel & Moneypenny, an independent agency specializing in trade show environments and brand experiences, is hiring a new Account Executive in Louisville, Kentucky. The role involves managing client projects, ensuring timely delivery, and budget adherence for trade show floors and live activations.

Steve Deckel, CEO of Louisville-based experiential design firm Deckel & Moneypenny, has joined the FIT Exhibition and Experience Design MFA Advisory Board. Deckel has a 34-year career in exhibit design, creative direction, and executive leadership.

Deckel & Moneypenny, an independent agency specializing in exhibit design and brand experiences, is hiring a new Account Executive in Louisville, Kentucky.

Equip Exposition has sold out its exhibit space at the Kentucky Exposition Center for the fifth consecutive year, offering over 1.2 million sq. ft. for the landscape and outdoor living industries. The 2026 event, held October 20-23, will feature new training sessions and networking opportunities.

Equip Exposition, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, has announced an expanded Tree Care Arena in Freedom Hall at the Kentucky Exposition Center for its October 20-23 show. The award-winning trade show, one of the top three largest in the U.S., has also sold out its exhibit space for the fifth consecutive year. Equip Exposition brings more than $31 million to Louisville and will return to the city in 2030 after a two-city rotation.

The MISMO Spring Summit is being held at the Hyatt Regency Louisville from June 1-4, 2026. This business summit is listed as a current event in Louisville.

The IWDC Sales & Purchasing Convention is scheduled to take place in Louisville from June 1-3, 2026. This business event is listed among other local events.

The 2026 IAFE Trade Show will be held at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, KY, from November 30 to December 1, 2026. The event will feature exhibitor booths and a lounge area, and will be monitored by the IAFE Trade Show Committee.

The Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville is undergoing a $180 million Phase 1 expansion, adding a 350,000-square-foot multipurpose building, making it the fifth-largest convention center in the U.S. Phase 2, totaling $213 million, will redevelop the West Wing, West Hall, and Pavilion by December 2028.

Kentucky Venues recently celebrated a topping-off milestone for the Kentucky Exposition Center's largest expansion and renovation project. Phase I, a $180 million investment, will add a 350,000-square-foot multipurpose building, expected to be complete by the end of 2026.

Kentucky leaders are discussing a proposed $275 million underground tunnel project to connect downtown Louisville to the Kentucky Exposition Center, similar to systems in Las Vegas and Nashville. This three-mile roadway aims to provide more transportation options for Louisville drivers and was part of Kentucky Venues' Expo Center Expansion Master Plan.

Kentucky leaders are discussing a proposed three-mile underground tunnel to connect downtown Louisville to the Kentucky Expo Center, with an estimated cost of $275 million. This project aims to enhance connectivity for major events and conventions.

Kentucky leaders are actively discussing a proposal for a three-mile underground tunnel to connect downtown Louisville to the Kentucky Exposition Center, a project estimated at $275 million. Kentucky Venues is advocating for a $5 million feasibility study, viewing it as a crucial transportation option.