Owensboro will host the Heartland Travel Showcase from March 6-8, 2026, drawing travel planners and tour operators from across the country. The annual event connects destinations, attractions, and hotels with group travel professionals through scheduled appointments and networking sessions.
The showcase serves as a marketplace for the group travel industry, with attendees representing markets across Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Ontario.
Mark Calitri, president of Visit Owensboro, said the event offers the city a chance to demonstrate its ability to host national-level events and to promote itself as a group travel destination.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for Owensboro,” Calitri said. “We’re welcoming planners from across the country and showing that Owensboro can step onto a national stage and successfully host a national-caliber event.”
Dave Kirk, president and CEO of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, was part of the original effort to bring the event to the city. He said the event’s format helps build direct relationships between tour operators and destinations.
“Heartland Travel Showcase is the perfect size show because of the interactions that lead to relationships with tour operators,” Kirk said. “In only the second year of attending, business was booked directly on the floor.”
The three-day event begins with exhibitor orientation and the “Four-Minute Meet,” a fast-paced session designed for initial introductions. That evening includes an opening celebration at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum.
The second day features scheduled appointments and open trade show time, followed by a dine-around event where attendees can visit local restaurants. The event concludes with additional appointments and final networking opportunities.
