MeetNKY looks ahead to 2026 as Northern Kentucky’s tourism economy enters a powerful moment of growth and opportunity. In the organization’s newly released annual report, the region welcomed 26.5 million visitors in 2025, which generated $3.3 billion in visitor spending.
Northern Kentucky outperformed the national average in hotel occupancy in 2025, reinforcing tourism as a key driver of the local economy.
“What we’re seeing across Northern Kentucky is the result of strong regional collaboration and a shared commitment to growing this destination together,” said Julie Kirkpatrick, president and CEO of MeetNKY and interim CEO of Visit Cincy. “With expanded air service, increased visibility through strategic marketing and branding efforts, and continued growth in meetings and conventions, we are well positioned to build on this momentum into 2026.”
2025 Performance Highlights
Northern Kentucky’s tourism industry delivered strong results in 2025:
• Hotel Occupancy: 2025 ended with a 59% hotel occupancy rate, exceeding the national average, even as parts of the broader travel economy slowed, with total lodging revenue reaching $475 million.
• Tourism Impact for the Commonwealth: Northern Kentucky generated $3.3 billion in visitor spending, welcoming 26.5 million visitors in 2025.
• Hotel Growth: Continued investment in new hotel product and infrastructure improvements enhanced the visitor experience and strengthened the region’s competitive position.
• Convention Sales: Meetings and conventions advanced significantly in 2025, generating 81,923 room nights across 221 conventions, tours, and events, with the booking pipeline extending into 2026 and early 2027.
• Visitor Experience Enhancements: CVG served approximately 8.97 million passengers, while launching new nonstop routes and announcing infrastructure improvements to strengthen access to the region.
• International Travel Above National Average While the national average for international visitation declined by 6% in 2025, Visa credit card data highlights Northern Kentucky’s strength in attracting international visitors from key markets. Visitor spending from key international markets continued to grow in 2025, with +5% growth from the UK, +21% growth from Germany and +43% growth from France.
In 2025, MeetNKY invested $928,000 in projects and events and joined regional growth partners in the OneNKY Center to strengthen collaboration. The report noted that major events, such as America’s River Roots in October 2025, strengthened hotel performance with 75% occupancy and an average stay value of $305, highlighting the region’s shared riverfront identity.
MeetNKY’s strategic marketing efforts also generated significant media coverage in 2025. Domestically, 145 stories about Northern Kentucky and the Cincy Region were secured, generating a total of 2.7 billion unique visitors per month and an advertising value equivalency of $25.8 million. Internationally, 35 stories were placed, reaching a UVM of 327.5 million and an AVE of $3.6 million.
“Looking ahead to 2026, we see a major opportunity to elevate our region as the Midwest’s arts epicenter, with milestones like BLINK returning this October,” said Kirkpatrick. “From the energy of our professional and emerging sports teams to a thriving live music scene, expanded convention spaces, and signature outdoor experiences, we’re building on strong momentum to attract visitors year-round. Together, these efforts fuel our local economy, support small businesses, and create new, meaningful ways for visitors to experience our communities.”
A copy of the 2025 annual report can be found here.
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