06/17/2026
Last week, Governor Andy Beshear announced that 2025 was the best year ever for Kentucky Tourism, receiving 81.1 million travelers to the commonwealth and generating a state-wide economic impact of $14.6 billion, 30% of which Louisville was responsible for.
"Tourism is about more than visitation–it's about telling Kentucky's story. A strong tourism industry highlights our people, our culture, and our authentic visitor experiences," said Louisville Tourism CEO Cleo Battle.
A passionate and enthusiastic advocate of tourism in Louisville, Battle's commitment and leadership has had a transformative impact on the hospitality and meetings industry. Earlier this month, Battle was named the 2026 recipient of Meeting Professionals International - MPI's Industry Leader Award at the World Education Congress for helping to "lead meaningful industry evolution—expanding the focus beyond visitor numbers to broader economic and community impact—while championing greater representation and opportunity for diverse professionals and businesses," (The Lane Report).