Louisville Scores Connect Marketplace’s 2,000 Meeting Planners in Summer 2019

September 22, 2017
(L to R) Louisville CVB's Karen Williams, Connect's Cjris Collinson, Louisville Mayor's Chief of Staff Ellen Hesen

Louisville’s nearly $1 billion in tourism infrastructure improvements, which includes expanding the Kentucky International Convention Center and opening the Omni Louisville Downtown, has attracted yet another big-name event – Connect Marketplace.

Connect Marketplace is a leading event in the meetings, events, travel and tourism industry and will be held in Louisville Summer 2019.

"We are more than excited to partner with our friends at Louisville CVB by bringing our largest Connect event of 2019 to its unique and inviting city," said Chris Collinson, president of Connect.

He added, "Connect Marketplace will give more than 2,000 planners a first-hand experience of the newly expanded Kentucky International Convention Center. What better way to showcase Louisville than to host the most active planners in the industry."

The announcement was made Sept. 21 at the Louisville Visitor Center during a press conference organized by the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Presented by Connect Meetings, Connect Marketplace will be held Aug. 22-27, 2019, at the Kentucky International Convention Center.

The event has an estimated economic impact of $6.68 million. The last time Louisville hosted Connect Marketplace was 2010.

“We are pleased that the team from Connect Meetings has selected Louisville for its 2019 Connect Marketplace,” said Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer.

He added, “This is a time of great transformation for our city, and we’re proud to host the meeting industry’s top event professionals and give these decision-makers a front-row seat to the nearly $1 billion in tourism-based infrastructure improvements underway here.”

Connect Marketplace will use hotel properties in the downtown area, including the newly opened Omni Louisville Downtown, Louisville Marriott Downtown, Galt House Hotel and Hyatt Regency Louisville.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to once again showcase the city of Louisville to such an important audience,” said Karen Williams, President and CEO of the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau.

She added, “Hosting Connect Marketplace 2019 will support our mission to continue attracting world class industry trade shows in Louisville. This will be the second time Connect Marketplace has been to Louisville, and we plan to take every opportunity to show off the best our city has to offer.”

The expansion of the Kentucky International Convention Center will include 200,000 square feet of exhibit space and a 40,000-square-foot ballroom. The project is estimated to increase national meetings and conventions opportunities for Louisville by 25 percent.

Connect Marketplace is just the latest in a series of events announcing they will be heading to Louisville, including the International Association of Exhibitions & Events Expo! Expo! (2020), TEAMS Conference & Expo (2018) and TSNN’s very own TSNN Awards (2018).

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Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact