Two families were displaced. Investigators are still looking to see what started the fire. VICKI: LOUISVILLES TOURISM AGENCY WILL HAVE A CHANGE OF TOURS THIS SUMMER. CEO KAREN WILLIAMS WILL RESIGN AFTER 30 YEARS AT LOUISVILLE TOURISMUS. IT IS THE ORGANIZATION THAT REPRESENTS THE CITY TO BRING TRADE SHOWS, CONFERENCES AND OTHER EVENTS INTO THE CITY WHILE PROMOTING AREA HIGHLIGHTS TO VISIT MORE PEOPLE. CURRENT CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER CLEO BATTLE ENTERED THE ROLE IT BEGINS. HE SAYS TO COME JULY 1st. >> THE MOST IMMEDIATE THAT WE HAVE TO GET THROUGH THIS PROCESS WITH VACCINATIONS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. LOUISVILLE HOW MANY TARGETS FIGHT FOR VISITORS. WE HAVE TO POSITION OUR MUSEUMS AND ATTRACTIONS IN THIS COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO RECREATE VISITORS HERE. We’ve been a hot destination nationally and we’re planning to get BA

Louisville Tourism announces leadership changes with the resignation of the longtime leader

Updated: 7:15 PM EST January 29, 2021

With the longtime chairman of the Louisville Tourism Commission slated to retire this year, the group has announced a succession plan to seek to bring visitors back to Derby City. Current President and CEO Karen Williams of the Louisville Tourism Commission will be retiring on June 30th after having worked for the organization for 30 years. The Commission has appointed current Chief Operating Officer Cleo Battle to lead the city’s tourism agency. Williams has worked in the hospitality industry for 40 years, starting out as a sales manager at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Atlanta. After opening 18 hotels around the world, Williams returned to Louisville and parted ways with what was then the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau for 23 years. She retired as Executive Vice President in 2012 but briefly returned as CEO in 2014. Williams has served on various local and international boards in the tourism industry. In recognition of her diverse accomplishments and long career in the hospitality industry, Williams received the 2012 Dan Mangeot Prize, presented to an individual who has contributed significantly to Louisville’s tourism initiatives: “It would be impossible to see the impact of Karen Williams on record tourism growth That’s what Louisville has seen in recent years, with a prepandemic peak of 19 million visitors in 2019, said Greg Fischer, Louisville Mayor. “Not only was Karen one of the most upbeat and dynamic cheerleaders in our community, but she also brought incredible skills , Experience and a feeling for working together for the job. She has been instrumental in working with city, state and tourism players to fund and support the beautiful renovation of KICC which positions us well in a highly competitive market as people travel again after the pandemic . “Having worked with Williams for the past eight years, this will be the second time Battle has taken over for her. After being named Executive Vice President in 2013 before being named COO in 2019. Battle has 34 years in.” Before moving to Louisville, Battle spent 12 years as Vice President Sales & Services at the Richmond Convention & Visitors Bureau in Richmond, Va. He began his hospitality career in the hospitality industry at Embassy Suites, Holiday Inn and Sheraton Hotels. Battle will take up his new position on July 1st and says getting out of the pandemic is his top priority. “Most immediately, we need to go through this process with the vaccinations across the country and then in Louisville like many others. The other goals will be around.” Visitors fight, and that’s why we have to position ourselves through marketing, “said Battle.” Our column museum and our attractions in the This city attracts visitors here. We have been a hot destination nationally and plan to return shortly. ”

LOUISVILLE, Ky. –

With the longtime chairman of the Louisville Tourism Commission scheduled to retire this year, the group has announced a succession plan to bring visitors back to Derby City.

Current President and CEO Karen Williams of the Commission of Louisville Tourism will retire on June 30th after serving 30 years with the organization. The Commission has appointed current Chief Operating Officer Cleo Battle to head the city’s tourism agency.

Williams has worked in the hospitality industry for 40 years, starting as a sales manager at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Atlanta. After opening 18 hotels around the world, Williams returned to Louisville and parted ways with what was then the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau for 23 years. She retired as Executive Vice President in 2012 but briefly returned as CEO in 2014. Williams has served on various local and international boards in the tourism industry. In recognition of her diverse accomplishments and long career in the hospitality industry, Williams was awarded the 2012 Dan Mangeot Prize, which was presented to an individual who has contributed significantly to Louisville’s tourism initiatives.

“It would be impossible to overestimate the impact of Karen Williams on the record growth of tourism in Louisville in recent years, with a high of 19 million pre-pandemic visitors in 2019,” said Greg Fischer, Karen Mayor of Louisville was the most optimistic and most dynamic cheerleader and brought incredible skills, experience and a sense of collaboration to the job. She has been instrumental in working with city, state, and tourism players to fund and support the beautiful renovation of the KICC, which will position us well in a highly competitive market when people travel again after the pandemic . “

After working with Williams for the past eight years, Battle will take over her for the second time. After being named Executive Vice President in 2013 before being named COO in 2019. Battle has been in the hospitality industry for 34 years. Before moving to Louisville, Battle was Vice President of Sales & Services for the Richmond Convention & Visitors Bureau in Richmond, Virginia for 12 years. He began his hospitality career in the hospitality industry at Embassy Suites, Holiday Inn and Sheraton Hotels.

Battle will step into his new role on July 1st and says getting out of the pandemic is his top priority.

“The quickest way to get through this vaccination process is across the country, and then Louisville, like many other destinations, will compete for visitors and we need to position ourselves through marketing,” said Battle. “Our column museum and attractions in this city are attracting visitors here. We have been a hot destination nationally and plan to return shortly.”

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