Louisville Scores Connect Marketplace’s 2,000 Meeting Planners in Summer 2019
September 22, 2017
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).
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.
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