LEXINGTON -- VisitLEX continues to recover strongly from the pandemic, with Lexington recently being named one of the “100 Most Loved Travel Destinations Around the World” by Tourism Sentiment Index.

2022 proved to be the year for national and international recognition for the city, as Lexington was named one of Travel + Leisure’s Best Places to Visit, highlighting SoulFeast Week’s Juneteenth Celebration. From travel features in global news outlets, such as BBC and CNN, to the wildly successful Horse Kicks campaign, VisitLEX secured more than 4 billion impressions through earned media in 2022. Hosting the Breeders’ Cup World Championships last November resulted in the highest Weekend ADR (average daily rate for hotel stays) ever on record in Lexington.

More and more travelers are looking to Lexington for their travel experiences, as evidenced by the 137% increase in website traffic (from 2021).

With the completion of the Central Bank Center expansion, meetings and conventions enjoyed a strong recovery year, as well. The VisitLEX sales team generated 466 meeting leads, which yielded nearly 245,000 room nights booked into the city. Meeting planners also expressed tremendous feedback on the expanded facility and the positive experience of hosting events in Lexington.

“The brand-new Central Bank Center and Rupp Arena are exceptional facilities to accommodate groups of any size and are easily navigable within downtown Lexington. The support and partnership with the Central Bank Center and VisitLEX were invaluable through the planning process and helped facilitate a safe and successful in-person event! If you are looking for a centrally located destination with a vibrant downtown, superior facilities and supportive hospitality community, do not overlook Lexington. It is truly a gem!” - ALISSA BUSH, ARROWHEAD 

VisitLEX also became an active member of IGLTA (International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association), highlighting the agency’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. In addition, VisitLEX completed its inaugural resident sentiment study, which yielded strong results and indicated that 9 in 10 residents believe tourism is good for the city.