New Omni Hotel Breaks Ground Next to Kentucky International Convention Center
February 3, 2016
Dallas-based Omni Hotels & Resorts broke ground on its 30-story, 853,000-square-foot hotel and luxury apartment complex today in downtown Louisville adjacent to the Kentucky International Convention Center.
“The Omni is a game-changer for Louisville’s hospitality industry increasing our convention business potential in a competitive marketplace. Louisville currently hosts 12.7 million visitors each year,” said Karen Williams, president and CEO of the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau.
He added, “A hotel project of this scope will help support further tourism growth.”
The Omni Louisville Hotel is slated to open by March 31, 2018, and will have 612 hotel rooms and 225 luxury apartments.
In addition, the complex will have nearly 70,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and three restaurants, including Bob's Steak & Chophouse, a popular steakhouse in existing Omni properties.
There also will be a lobby lounge and a lower-level rooftop pool deck that will have a bar and full kitchen. In a nod to Louisville’s bourbon history and culture, the Omni plans to create a speakeasy-style bar with bowling lanes on the lobby level.
Other planned amenities include a spa and fitness center and an urban grocery and market that will offer an array of groceries and household products.
Robert Rowling, founder of Dallas-based TRT Holdings, the holding company of Omni Hotels & Resorts, was on-hand at the groundbreaking to talk about the importance of the project to Omni and how they plan to incorporate the uniqueness and special culture of Louisville into the design so it will not be a “cookie-cutter property”.
“Of all the things going on at Omni right now, this is probably the one I'm most excited about,” Rowling said.
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer added that Omni is an “authentic, unique brand that will become part of our city’s DNA.”
The Omni will offer another high-end brand to leisure travelers and help Louisville attract larger conventions with the addition of more than 600 new hotel rooms.
The timing is bolstered by the renovation and expansion of the adjacent Kentucky International Convention Center, which is set to be complete in August 2018.
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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