Louisville Named U.S. ‘Destination Of The Year’

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (December 10, 2024) – Louisville Tourism is proud to announce that the city has been honored with several prestigious awards, highlighting its excellence as a premier travel destination - including US 'Destination of the Year,' by meetings industry outlet Groups Today.

Louisville earned a trifecta of recognition, through the ConventionSouth Readers' Choice Award, Groups Today Readers' Choice ‘Destination of the Year,' and by MeetingsToday as one of the ‘Best Destination Marketing Organizations in the South.’

Groups Today surveys the group travel market and selected Louisville as the U.S. ‘Destination of the Year,’ saying “Bourbon reigns supreme in Louisville, which has earned the nickname "Bourbon City." Here, groups could choose from a variety of urban distilleries and tasting experiences, in addition to taking a bite out of the city's thriving culinary scene. Try a "hot brown" sandwich, wear your best hat to visit the Kentucky Derby Museum, honor the legacy of "The Greatest" at the Muhammad Ali Center, and more.”

Another convention industry heavyweight, ConventionSouth selected convention and visitor bureaus (CVBs), meeting facilities, hotels, and unique venues located across the South to receive this year’s Readers’ Choice Award with meeting professionals nominating the sites they believe provide exemplary service for group events, after which meeting professionals and fans are asked to vote for the ‘best of the best.’

Since its creation in 2001, this is the tenth time that Louisville Tourism has received the award. Louisville Tourism is featured as an award recipient in the December 2024 Awards Issue of ConventionSouth magazine.

Meetings Today polls its audience of planners every year to get their take on the top properties and destinations they've used for meetings. Finalists in each category are determined by industry professionals during an open voting period, while winners are selected by an expert panel of judges from the Meetings Today staff.

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.

In addition to these recent awards, Louisville Tourism has received numerous accolades throughout the year. Some of the highlights include:

- The Best Food Cities in the U.S. – Travel + Leisure
- Recognized as a top meeting destination in North America – Cvent
- The South's Best Cities 2024 – Southern Living

Cleo Battle, President and CEO of Louisville Tourism, expressed gratitude for the recognition and emphasized the importance of these achievements. "These awards and accolades are a reflection of the hard work and dedication of our entire tourism community. We are honored to be recognized by our peers and industry leaders, and we remain committed to showcasing Louisville as a world-class destination."