OWENSBORO, Ky. (AP) — Owensboro’s tourism economy took a pounding after its largest hotel, the Executive Inn Rivermont, closed in 2008 as the national economy started to falter, but now things are looking better.
The Owensboro-Daviess County Convention & Visitors Bureau, which is funded primarily by a hotel room tax, brought in $587,567 at the end of this fiscal year — more than the $512,000 budgeted.
The Messenger-Inquirer (http://bit.ly/SvseQi) cited records from the visitors’ bureau in reporting that the agency brought in $417,830 in 2007-08, $409,884 in 2008-09 and $365,766 in 2009-10.
CVB Director Karen Miller says she only expects it to get better in coming years. She says the city’s new convention center as well as two new hotels should be open by 2014.
___
Information from: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer, http://www.messenger-inquirer.com
