Louisville Tourism Named To ‘Best South DMO’ List by Meetings Today

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Louisville Tourism is proud to announce its selection as one of the “Best South CVBs/DMOs” (Convention & Visitors Bureau/Destination Marketing Organization) in the 2025 Best of Meetings Today Awards. This prestigious honour, voted on by meeting planners and reviewed by Meetings Today’s editorial team, recognizes Louisville’s excellence in destination marketing and its commitment to providing world-class experiences for meetings and events.
“This recognition is a testament to the incredible work of our tourism community,” said Cleo Battle, President & CEO of Louisville Tourism. “From our vibrant culinary scene to our iconic bourbon heritage and welcoming hospitality, Louisville continues to stand out as a premier destination for both business and leisure travellers. We’re honoured to be acknowledged by Meetings Today and grateful to our partners who help make this city shine.”
Additional convention industry heavyweights have recognized Louisville’s impact, with Groups Today naming the city a U.S. Destination of the Year and ConventionSouth honouring it with a Readers’ Choice Award for exemplary service in group events.
Louisville was also named one of Travel + Leisure’s “50 Best Places to Travel in 2024” and recognized by Southern Living as one of the “South’s Best Cities,” praised for its Southern charm, cultural richness, and vibrant urban energy.
Drawing attention to Louisville’s culinary scene, Travel + Leisure named Louisville one of the “Best Food Cities in the U.S.,” highlighting its dynamic restaurant scene and James Beard award-winning chefs.
These accolades highlight Louisville‘s commitment to providing exceptional experiences for visitors and its dedication to promoting the city as a top destination for conventions, meetings, and leisure travel. For more information, visit GoToLouisville.com.
To help with planning a trip to Louisville, guests can download a copy of Louisville Tourism’s annual Visitor Guide to see the city’s top attractions and bourbon distilleries.

New Visit USA Executive Group Elected

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The Visit USA Committee Ireland Annual General Meeting took place in the Spencer Hotel, Dublin on 20th November 2025 and a new Executive Group was  elected. The officers are:

  • Chairperson, Tara Magee, British Airways
  • Vice Chairperson, Bladhana Richardson, American Holidays
  • Treasurer, Barry Hammond Sunway Travel
  • Company Secretary, Aoife Gregg, United Airlines

We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to outgoing Chairperson, Tryphavana Cross and outgoing Treasurer, Jenny Rafter for all their hard work over the years and contributing to making the Committee a great success.

KENTUCKY KINGDOM SOARS INTO 2026 WITH NEW FAMILY ROLLER COASTER, FLYING FOX

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Kentucky Kingdom is taking family fun to new heights with the debut of its first new roller coaster since 2019, adding to the continued investment in the park. Today, the park officially announced Flying Fox, an all-new family-friendly coaster opening for the 2026 season.

This custom coaster will be the park’s 6th rollercoaster, the most in Kentucky. Join the daring adventures of local legend and crop-dusting pilot, Jeb Fox, as Flying Fox sends riders soaring over a vibrant Kentucky farmland setting. Every detail of the attraction has been carefully designed by Herschend’s in-house creative team, known for bringing stories to life in ways that feel both authentic and whimsical. From the red barn-inspired queue to hand-painted murals and playful audio featuring Jeb himself, the theming celebrates Kentucky’s agricultural heritage while adding a lighthearted twist aimed for families to enjoy.

“At Kentucky Kingdom, our mission is to create memories worth repeating, and the addition of Flying Fox is the next exciting chapter in that journey,” said Sarah Worrell, General Manager of Kentucky Kingdom. “With the debut of Discovery Meadow in 2025, we set a new standard for immersive, family–friendly experiences, and Flying Fox builds on that momentum. This new coaster represents not only our continued investment in the park, but also our commitment to transforming Kentucky Kingdom into a place where families can return year after year and always find something new to discover.”

Flying Fox represents the latest step in a transformational, multi-year investment in Kentucky Kingdom, with more than $33 million committed from 2024 through 2026. The park first elevated its seasonal offerings with the $8 million debut of Christmas at Kentucky Kingdom in 2024, followed by the opening of Discovery Meadow in 2025, a new $11 million family-themed land that redefined immersive play for guests. Now, the $14 million investment in Flying Fox builds on that momentum, signaling an exciting era of growth, innovation and family fun for Louisville’s premier theme park.

Flying Fox Key Features:
• Track Length: 1,380 ft
• Max Height: 65 ft
• Top Speed: 37 mph
• Height Requirement: 38 inches
• 63-second ride time
• Manufacturer: Vekoma

While Flying Fox prepares for takeoff in 2026, guests can still enjoy the magic this year during Christmas at Kentucky Kingdom, returning in November with over 1.5 million lights, the largest snow tubing hill in the state of Kentucky and festive family fun.

Current passholders can now renew their Season Passes for 2026 and lock in unlimited rides on Flying Fox, along with every other attraction at Kentucky Kingdom and Hurricane Bay, for as low as $64.99 per pass. This early renewal offer gives our passholder family the first opportunity to secure their spot for next season. For those interested in joining as new passholders, sales will open to the public on November 3, when guests can become part of the Season Passholder family and enjoy all the benefits that come with it. 

Kentucky Kingdom Theme and Water Park is Kentucky’s largest amusement and water park in the heart of Louisville, Kentucky. Spanning 67 acres, it offers family-friendly entertainment with over 70 rides and attractions – including one of the region’s largest selections of children’s rides (King Louie’s Playland), five world-class roller coasters, and two giant wave pools.
Find out more here.