Louisville to Host TEAMS '18 Conference and Expo
December 27, 2016
The TEAMS ’18 Conference & Expo will be held Oct. 1–4, 2018, at the Kentucky International Convention Center, which will reopen in 2018 following a multimillion-dollar expansion and renovation project.
“We are pleased to be the first travel industry show that will be held at the newly expanded Kentucky International Convention Center,” said Timothy Schneider, president and CEO of Schneider Publishing Company, which publishes SportsTravel magazine and organizes the TEAMS Conference.
He added, “We have had a longstanding relationship with Louisville, which proved to be an outstanding host destination when TEAMS was held there in 2007. We are proud to bring the world’s largest gathering of sports-event organizers to Louisville and highlight all of the exciting developments in the destination that have occurred there in recent years.”
TEAMS ‘18 will be headquartered at the Omni Louisville, which is currently under construction and is scheduled to open in the spring of 2018.
The Omni Louisville will feature 612 guest rooms and 70,000 square feet of meeting space. TEAMS attendees will also be housed at the Louisville Marriott Downtown 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 TEAMS ‘18 will support our mission to continue attracting top-flight sporting events to Louisville, which is our second biggest room night–producing market. This will be the second time TEAMS 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 add 200,000 square feet of exhibit space and a 40,000-square-foot ballroom to the facility.
The project is estimated to bring up to 25 percent more business to the convention center and $53 million in annual economic impact to the downtown area.
“The new Kentucky International Convention Center is the perfect venue for the TEAMS ‘18 Conference & Expo,” said Jason Rittenberry, president and CEO of the Kentucky State Fair Board, which manages the convention center.
He added, “Hosting this industry show will enable both Louisville and KICC to showcase our destination to the decision-makers in the sports industry.”
“We would like to thank the team from Schneider Publishing for selecting Louisville as the site for the TEAMS ‘18 Conference & Expo,” said Karl Schmitt Jr., president and CEO of the Louisville Sports Commission.
He added, “Louisville has shown a long commitment to supporting the sports-event industry, and this conference provides a great opportunity to provide these decision-makers a front-row seat to the nearly $1 billion in tourism-based infrastructure improvements the city has made.”
In addition to the Kentucky International Convention Center and the forthcoming Omni hotel, Louisville also is home to major event venues including the Kentucky Exposition Center, which offers more than 1.2 million square feet of indoor exhibition space, and KFC Yum! Center, which serves as home court for the University of Louisville men’s and women’s basketball programs. Louisville attractions include retail, art and culinary hubs such as East Market Street and Museum Row.
Partner Voices
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
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