Oak View Group, the venue management partner for the Owensboro Convention Center, is proud to announce that Exhibitor Group has named the venue a 2025 Centers of Excellence Award winner. This prestigious accolade from Exhibitor Group, which produces both EXHIBITOR magazine and Find It Marketplace, the buyer’s guide to trade show products and services, launched this initiative to identify and recognize North America’s best convention centers for trade shows and events.
“Being named one of EXHIBITOR Magazine’s 2025 Centers of Excellence is an incredible honor for the Owensboro Convention Center, and I am deeply grateful to our exceptional team for their unwavering commitment to excellence. This recognition underscores the dedication of our staff, partners, and the entire Owensboro community in delivering world-class experiences for trade shows and events. We take immense pride in our facility and will continue to elevate the standard for service, innovation, and hospitality for all our clients and visitors,” stated Jeff Esposito, General Manager.
“We are thrilled to be recognized as one of the 2025 Centers of Excellence by EXHIBITOR Magazine. I am beyond proud of the devotion to excellence that Jeff Esposito and his team have demonstrated to all of our clients again this past year. For more than a decade we have strived to set the bar for exceptional trade shows and events in our region and our team continues to fulfill that commitment to all of our clients and visitors,” added Tim Ross, Public Events Director with the City of Owensboro.
Applicants were evaluated using an objective algorithm weighted to reflect how EXHIBITOR magazine readers value a variety of variables. The myriad criteria considered were categorized into five primary areas:
- Facility & Functionality
- Location & Accommodations
- Service & Execution
- Upgrades & Expansions
- Sustainability
The evaluation process also includes a survey of event planners, show organizers, and exhibit managers who have recently hosted (or exhibited at) events within each facility, as well as a review of entrants’ event spaces, selling points, and innovations, conducted by a panel of corporate exhibit managers.
“The Centers of Excellence Awards allows exhibit managers to identify exhibitor-friendly venues that make their experiences at trade shows and events smooth and successful,” said Emily Olson, editor of EXHIBITOR magazine, noting that everything from health and safety protocols to the cost and quality of Wi-Fi access can have a significant impact on exhibiting companies’ experiences at events. “The facilities awarded have proven their ability to host trade shows and events of all sizes while providing world-class service and state-of-the-art accommodations.”
The recipients of the EXHIBITOR Magazine’s 2025 Centers of Excellence recognized as the Top 25 Venues are featured in the October/November issue of EXHIBITOR magazine, as well as via an online portal where readers can learn more about each of the facilities that qualified for this honor. The portal enables face-to-face marketers to quickly and easily research potential event venues and learn more about the convention centers that are hosting the trade shows and exhibitions on their annual calendars.
In addition to being named one of North America’s 25 best venues for trade shows and events, the Owensboro Convention Center is also in consideration for the Best Convention Center (100,000 sq. ft. of Exhibit Space) Special Award. Winners will be announced on November 13 at 1PM CDT during a special EXHIBITORInsight session.
The Owensboro Convention Center proudly joins fellow OVG venues Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, Texas, Overland Park Convention Center in Overland Park, Kansas, and Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami, Florida on the list of 2025 Centers of Excellence.