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
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