From June 23-25, the Cincy region will host the 10th Edition of the EsportsTravel Summit at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center.
The event is the world’s largest gathering of esports tournament and video-game event organizers and the only event of its kind focused on the travel side of the industry. Event organizers anticipate around 200 attendees, including representatives from FIFA, BLAST and Collegiate Sports Management Group.
“We’re excited to bring this year’s EsportsTravel Summit to the Cincy region,” said Jason Gewirtz, senior vice president of the sports division of Northstar Meetings Group, which organizes the event. “Our attendees will enjoy seeing how forward-thinking destinations like Cincinnati have approached the future of the events industry and planned out a great esports ecosystem.”
The summit will welcome esports’ leading brands and bring together potential destinations, venues, suppliers and organizers to advance the business of esports through collaboration, networking and education. It fills a critical information gap for video-game event organizers and for travel and tourism professionals seeking to understand and capitalize on the growth of esports.
“Hosting the EsportsTravel Summit is a massive win,” said Ben Huffman, executive director of the Cincinnati Regional Sports Commission. “Competitive gaming is no longer a niche market; it’s an internationally recognized sport and multi-billion-dollar tourism driver. Bringing the world’s leading esports tournament organizers and site-selectors here perfectly positions our hotels, venues, attractions and small businesses to capture a wave of high-impact economic growth opportunities. The room nights and direct visitor spending generated by esports are vital components of our region’s tourism strategy.”
According to Stellar Market Research, the esports industry is forecasted to grow from $4.51 billion in 2025 to nearly $8.27 billion by 2032, just over a 9% increase in a decade, and the region has already started to see the direct impact of this.
The Cincy Region is home to the female-owned, professional esports team the Cincinnati Fear. In the growing intercollegiate space, the University of Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky University and Thomas More University all offer varsity esports programs, with many students receiving scholarships. In 2022, UC opened a 5,500-square-foot esports Innovation Lab at its 1819 Innovation Hub. Featuring 40 gaming stations and a broadcast studio, it fuels industry growth by supporting both competitive leagues and academic IT co-ops. UC also partners with Cincinnati Public Schools to promote esports as a pipeline for STEM and collegiate opportunities.
“Esports is an outstanding recruiting tool for colleges and universities, offering significant opportunities for regions investing in it as an economic development ecosystem,” said Patty Moser, director of Events, Experience, Esports & Engagement at University of Cincinnati “Much like a major-league sports team, esports draws large crowds and loyal fan followings. Recognizing this momentum, many prominent tournament organizers have actively started rolling out their own academic partnerships and student-athlete initiatives.”
Featured speakers at this year’s EsportsTravel Summit include:
• A panel on Cincinnati’s esports strategy to position the region as a key destination for industry events, featuring: Patty Moser, director of events, esports and engagement for UC and the Cincinnati Innovation District; Shanda Harris, director of volunteers and interns for the Cincinnati Open; and Jackie Reau, CEO of Game Day.
• Cincinnati resident Nicole Pike, global head of YouGov Sport, will be presenting the latest findings and statistics on esports fans and their economic impact.
• Simon Birchall, eFootball manager for FIFA, who will speak to a new global esports and gaming experience called FIFAe Festival.
• Vlad Marinescu, president of the International Esports Federation; Todd Harris, board member for USA Esports and president of U.S. Esports Federation; Jorrel Batac, vice president of international affairs for USA Esports; and Jason Gewirtz, senior vice president of the sports division of Northstar Meeting Group who will discuss the international esports landscape.
meetNKY/Visit Cincy