Renovated Kentucky International Convention Center Opens Its Doors

August 7, 2018

The Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC) opened its doors on Aug. 6 after a two-year renovation and expansion. The new build has increased KICC’s contiguous exhibit space by more than a third. 

State and local government officials, along with KICC facility officials and staff, welcomed clients, local stakeholders and media to an open house that showcased the new facility and its capacity for events. 

The program included comments from:

  • David S. Beck, president and CEO of Kentucky Venues
  • Don Parkinson, secretary of Kentucky’s Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet
  • William M. Landrum III, secretary of Kentucky’s Finance and Administration Cabinet
  • Greg Fischer, Mayor of Louisville
  • Karen Williams, president and CEO of Louisville Tourism (formerly Louisville CVB)
  • Stacey Church, general manager of KICC

Guests enjoyed entertainment from the Sweet Adelines, Oldham County HS marching band, Linkin’ Bridge, Cirque Louis and the Bourbon Straights and new audio-visual design and room sets by Prestige AV & Creative Services and Fern Expo. 

Resident caterer Levy showcased their culinary program with a Louisville Biscuit Bar, KY Proud BBQ, Kentucky Bourbon tastings and samples of local vendor partners including Red Hot Roasters, Mayan Café, and Falls City Brewing.

All parties involved took well-justified pride in the fact that the $207 million project was completed on time and within budget. 

“We have a wonderful space and we will continue to manage it, update it, take care of it, provide jobs and be part of the economic engine of our community,” Beck said. 

The numbers uphold the community’s optimism. Eighty-four convention groups are already booked at the KICC, which are estimated to have an economic impact of $246 million. Louisville Tourism is also projecting a 25-30 percent growth in tourism over the next few months. 

Louisville hosts five of the country’s largest trade shows, according to TSNN, which will be the second group to use the new space when it hosts its 2018 Awards Ceremony Aug. 10-12.  

KICC highlights include:

  • 200,125 square feet of contiguous exhibit space
  • A 40,000 sq. ft. column-free ballroom with color-changing LED walls
  • 52 breakout rooms
  • A 175-seat tiered conference theatre
  • Natural light-filled design reflecting Louisville’s Bourbon culture
  • 15,000 meals-per-day kitchen capacity
  • Oak Brew, a new coffee-by-day, bourbon-by-night experience

“We are about to launch a new era for downtown Louisville,” Parkinson said. “This is the best convention center in the United States.”

The city of Louisville features two large convention venues, an arena and 20,000 hotel rooms in the metro area. The city’s growing culinary scene, 3000 new hotel rooms and expansions at many of its iconic attractions have brought it to the forefront of attention from both convention and leisure markets. 

In April 2017, the city officially appended the “Bourbon District” moniker to a several-block radius which is now home to ten distilleries. On Aug. 30, the Frazier History Museum will unveil its new exhibits and bourbon trail concierge service, officially becoming the starting point for the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

To learn more, go HERE.

 

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Partner Voices
Dallas already boasts 35,000 hotel rooms, award-winning global cuisine, and a walkable downtown. But we are just getting started. Visit Dallas is thrilled to announce that the city of Dallas is doubling down with a massive new convention center and entertainment district. Featuring 800,000 square feet of exhibit area, 260,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and 170,000 square feet of ballroom. The center will connect business travelers with dining and shopping options in the popular Cedars District means more places to get down to business, and even more ways to unwind. “Dallas is already a great meetings and conventions destination, with the accessibility of two major airports, affordable labor, and an outstanding hotel product,” said D. Bradley Kent, Visit Dallas senior vice president and chief sales officer. “The new center and Convention Center District will enhance Dallas’ competitive position and are exactly what our customers’ need and have been asking for." What’s New – AT&T Discovery District Located in the heart of Downtown Dallas, this new district on the AT&T corporate campus is tailor-made for groups of all sizes. It boasts a multi-sensory experience, including outdoor event space, the AT&T Theater, and multiple dining outlets including JAXON Beer Garden and The Exchange, a bustling food hall. Hotels Coming Soon Names like the JW Marriott (Downtown), lnterContinental Dallas (Uptown), and Hotel Swexan (Uptown) are adding luxury amenities and bountiful event spaces. The projects will debut in 2023 and beyond. JW Marriott This new, 15-story, 283-room hotel will open in the heart of the city’s downtown Arts District this year. The property features a 25,000-square-foot grand ballroom, as well as a spa, restaurant, lobby bar, fitness center, and a rooftop pool deck and bar. InterContinental Dallas  Located in Cityplace Tower in Uptown, InterContinental Dallas will feature sweeping panoramic views of the Dallas skyline. Guests will enjoy spacious, high-end rooms and amenities, including more than 21,000 square feet of event space.   Hotel Swexan Hotel Swexan, a new, 22-story luxury property, is rising in Uptown’s Harwood District and will make its mark on the Dallas skyline. Opening this year, it is a sculptural building with cantilevered upper floors, as well as a 75-foot rooftop infinity-edge swimming pool and a hidden underground lounge.