Downtown Louisville Convention Center Will Add Exhibit, Meeting Room Space
February 11, 2015
The Kentucky International Convention Center, located in Downtown Louisville, is set to begin an expansion and renovation project in August 2016 with an early completion date of summer 2018.
Kentucky State Fair Board President and CEO Rip Rippetoe said that the accelerated construction schedule will “keep this renovation on time and within budget which is certainly a top priority.” The Fair Board oversees the center.
The renovation of the convention center is projected to cost $180 million. The investment will increase contiguous exhibit space by more than a third, from 146,000 square feet to over 200,000 square feet, all within the existing footprint.
The project also includes renovation of meeting rooms in the existing facility.
“The expansion of the Kentucky International Convention Center is yet another example of the continued growth and momentum that is occurring in Louisville and Jefferson County,” Gov. Steve Beshear said. “When this project is completed, the expanded facility will dramatically improve Louisville’s future as a top-tier convention city.”
Karen Williams, president and CEO of the Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau said, “Bottom line, the hospitality industry could not be more thrilled about the expansion of KICC and the increased business potential it brings to our tourism economy.”
She added that the proposed construction timeline “expedites how soon we can book more and new lucrative business than we could with the current space.”
In the meantime, and state officials are working to relocate affected events during the 2016-2018 construction process.
On the 2013 TSNN Top 250 Trade Show List Louisville hosted five of the biggest events in the United States. All of those events, though, were held at the Kentucky Exposition Center.
The first event to book the newly renovated KICC was announced last month. Sweet Adelines International will bring its 2020 convention and 10,000 attendees to Louisville in part because of the new exhibit space and increased number of hotel rooms downtown.
By 2018, additional hotels will bring 18,000 rooms to the Louisville area.
“Louisville is open for business,” said Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer.
He added, “We have one of the largest meeting spaces in the country with the Kentucky Exposition Center which continues to attract some of the largest trade shows in the country. We have a state-of-the-art arena. Just as one hotel opens its doors, we break ground on the next one. Now with this construction, groups like Sweet Adelines are not waiting for the future. They know that the future is here. We are aggressively looking to book other groups who share this vision and are ready to get on board.”
Partner Voices
Here at Mandalay Bay, venues are inviting and innovative. As one of the most iconic names on the Las Vegas Strip, the Mandalay Bay Convention Center has recently undergone an exciting upgrade. This renowned venue now offers everything your business needs, with a refreshed convention space designed to inspire productivity and creativity, as well as an impressive selection of world-class restaurants and amenities. If you're searching for a venue that is both inviting and innovative, Mandalay Bay is the place to be.
Mandalay Bay is committed to investing in a new wave of enhancements, not only in the convention space but also throughout the entire resort. With new restaurant openings and remodels, spectacular entertainment, and updated rooms, Mandalay Bay promises to deliver new and exciting experiences to its guests until 2024.
To create a truly effective conference venue, Mandalay Bay has carefully considered what businesses require. The right technology, capacity, and inspiration are essential to take ideas to the next level. The refreshed Mandalay Bay Convention Center has been designed with your business in mind. Every room is equipped with newly-upgraded technology, enhancing our ability to support bandwidth demand and overall data capabilities. Additionally, the addition of 10 new digital walls provides bigger and more dynamic ways to display customized content messages.
Mandalay Bay offers world-class conference space and service. The venue options range from ballrooms to ample pre-function spaces, catering to teams of any size while accommodating multiple large groups simultaneously. Our certified planners work collaboratively with you to understand your specific event requirements, anticipating your business needs and offering the best-fit solutions.
In addition to providing exceptional conference facilities, Mandalay Bay is also dedicated to sustainability. We strive to give our guests an unforgettable experience while minimizing our impact on the environment. As part of our sustainable energy efforts, you'll find refillable water stations throughout the property, eliminating the need for single-use plastic bottles and reducing unnecessary plastic usage.
Mandalay Bay is proud to offer an upgraded and enhanced experience for businesses seeking a venue that combines innovation, convenience, and sustainability. Whether you're hosting a conference, meeting, or other business event, Mandalay Bay's refreshed convention space, world-class service, and commitment to sustainability make it the ideal choice. Come and discover the new wave of experiences awaiting you at Mandalay Bay on the Las Vegas Strip. Wherever your organization is going, getting there starts with being here.
Add new comment