Downtown Omaha’s recent wave of major attractions and infrastructure investments is helping transform the city into a stronger tourism and convention destination.
From the Kiewit Luminarium and Tenaska Center for Arts Engagement to Steelhouse Omaha and the expanded Joslyn Art Museum, tourism officials say Omaha’s growing list of downtown attractions is attracting more visitors, helping secure future conventions and boosting the city’s national profile.
“We’ve seen steady tourism growth year over year,” said Jasmyn Goodwin, executive director of Visit Omaha, the city’s convention and visitors bureau. “All of the investments have really improved our visitor experience and enhanced our overall product.”
According to Visit Omaha, downtown visitation has steadily increased in recent years. In 2021, Omaha welcomed 2.6 million out-of-town visitors to the downtown area. By 2025, that number had grown to 2.8 million. Visit Omaha tracks visitation through Placer.ai, a data system that uses anonymous cell phone location data to estimate visitor activity.
For leisure travelers, Goodwin said Omaha’s newest attractions have become some of the city’s biggest marketing tools.
“When it comes to these downtown attractions, what’s new is a major selling point,” she said. “The Steelhouse, the Joslyn expansion, the Luminarium, that feeds into that audience and gives us more content for our commercials and promotions.”
Those same projects are also helping Omaha compete for conventions and large meetings years into the future. Meeting planners often schedule events five or six years in advance, meaning future development plays a major role in the bidding process.
“When we’re out selling to event organizers, they want to know what is in development,” Goodwin said. “Everyone wants the bright, shiny new thing.”
That includes the ongoing expansion at Eppley Airfield, which Visit Omaha began promoting almost immediately after it was announced. Meeting planners are already looking ahead to 2028, when the airport’s larger terminal and expanded capacity are expected to make travel to Omaha easier for convention attendees.
The planned Omaha Streetcar has also become a key selling point. Convention organizers increasingly prioritize walkability and transportation access when selecting host cities.
“Convention organizers want to know, is it going to be easy for folks to get around your downtown area?” Goodwin said. “How many restaurants are within walking distance?”
Omaha’s convention district benefits from its proximity to the Capitol District, North Downtown and the Old Market, with more than 90 restaurants and bars located near the convention center. Goodwin said that accessibility has become a major competitive advantage.
Another centerpiece in Omaha’s tourism strategy has been the renovated Gene Leahy Mall and downtown riverfront.
“Having this beautiful green space right in the middle of your downtown area is extremely attractive,” Goodwin said. “You have this outdoor escape right in the middle of skyscrapers.”
Visit Omaha frequently takes meeting planners on walking tours through the riverfront during familiarization visits designed to showcase the city. According to Goodwin, Omaha has roughly a 50 percent conversion rate when trying to secure convention business after planners visit in person.
“Once they see the city and experience it, we’re typically able to lock it down,” she said.
Many of the city’s newer attractions are also doubling as event venues. The Luminarium has emerged as a unique off-site convention space, appealing to both families and adults with interactive exhibits and hands-on experiences. The Joslyn’s renovated galleries and free admission have similarly become attractive features for convention groups and tourists alike.
“These new investments downtown enhance our product,” Goodwin said. “It’s added to our whole bidding process.”
Tourism numbers suggest the momentum may be continuing. Omaha recorded its strongest tourism year ever in 2024, according to Visit Omaha.
Hotel occupancy rates have remained strong even as national travel trends begin to level off following the post-pandemic tourism surge. During the first quarter of 2026, 54.2 percent of hotel rooms in Omaha were filled, compared to 51.7 percent during the same period in 2024.
Goodwin said those numbers are encouraging as Omaha continues expanding its convention infrastructure, including the planned expansion of the CHI Health Center Omaha. She added that another convention hotel downtown could help the city compete for even larger events in the future.
As Omaha’s skyline reshapes and additional attractions open across downtown, investments appear to be paying off. Not only does it create new experiences for residents, but it also positions the city as an increasingly competitive destination for tourists, conventions and major events.
Photo by Brad Williams
