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Railway Interchange Brings 3,000 Rail Industry Professionals to Omaha
Railway Interchange, the largest railway conference and trade show in North America, runs June 2 to 4 at CHI Health Center Omaha. About 3,000 attendees are expected, with 90 percent traveling from outside the metro area. The conference draws railway suppliers, engineers and industry leaders from around the world. Most attendees will have free evenings to explore Omaha’s restaurants, attractions and entertainment districts during the three-day event. Omaha is a fitting host for the event. The city was the eastern terminus of the First Transcontinental Railroad and is the global headquarters for the Union Pacific Railroad. Visitors can explore the city’s train-centered history at The Durham Museum, housed in the restored Union Station, head to Kenefick Park to see Centennial No. 6900 and Big Boy No. 4023, or stroll through Union Pacific Railroad Museum in Council Bluffs. Chuff along for more ideas at...
Midwest Basketball Showcase is a Slam Dunk for Omaha Tourism
This Memorial Day Weekend, the Midwest Basketball Showcase will bring thousands of athletes, families and coaches to Omaha for three days of competition, which also means three days of hotel stays, restaurant visits and spending across the metro. About 160 boys and girls teams from eight states will compete at CHI Health Center Omaha May 22 through 24. Organizers expect roughly 5,900 attendees, with about 90 percent traveling from outside Omaha. Games begin Friday evening and run through Sunday. High school divisions will draw scouts from NCAA Division III schools, NAIA programs and junior colleges across the region. Youth sports tourism is growing, and Visit Omaha is actively competing for events as the city continues to expand its facility offerings.
Public Transportation Conference Revs Omaha’s Economy
More than 900 community and public transportation professionals are in Omaha for the Community Transportation EXPO 2026 through May 13. Hosted by the Community Transportation Association of America, the conference takes place May 10-13 at CHI Health Center Omaha. Among the attendees, 90 percent are from outside of Omaha. Hotel nights total 2,500 from May 8-14 for these guests. The annual EXPO focuses on mobility and public transportation systems, featuring educational sessions, networking events and a trade show highlighting the latest transportation products and services. Conventions like this one are an economic engine for Omaha. Visit Omaha's sales team books conventions and meetings that collectively contribute nearly $140 million into the local economy each year. The Community Transportation EXPO is putting its share directly into downtown hotels, restaurants and businesses this week. Conventions are a strong economic driver for Omaha — pun intended. Learn how you can bring...
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Visit Omaha Announces 2026 OMA Tourism Award Winners
National Travel & Tourism Week is here. Visit Omaha is marking the occasion by announcing the 2026 OMA Tourism Awards winners. The awards honor standout tourism businesses in Douglas and Pottawattamie counties. Nearly 14,000 votes were cast across four categories for the two counties. This year’s Douglas County winners — all first-time honorees — are Joslyn Art Museum for Best Attraction; Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel for Best Hotel; Big Mama’s Kitchen for Best Restaurant; and City Limits for Best Retail Business. Winners receive social media posts and billboard exposure. National Travel & Tourism Week celebrates an industry central to Omaha’s economy. The city welcomes 14.7 million visitors a year, who spend $1.6 billion locally. That spending supports local jobs and the businesses these awards recognize.
Berkshire Weekend Draws International Crowd to Omaha Hotels & Restaurants
Every spring, thousands of Berkshire Hathaway shareholders come to Omaha for the company’s annual meeting. This year’s meeting takes place Saturday, May 2, at CHI Health Center Omaha. Organizers expect tens of thousands of visitors from around the world. The weekend includes shareholder shopping events, special exhibits, local business promotions and the highly anticipated Q&A sessions with Berkshire leadership. The meeting is the first in which CEO Greg Abel will take a larger role on stage. Warren Buffett remains chairman of Berkshire’s board. The gathering fills Omaha hotels, restaurants and shops with an international crowd — it’s one of the city’s largest annual influxes of visitors and a reliable driver of tourism revenue each spring.
Visit Omaha Courts Sports Events at Las Vegas Symposium
Visit Omaha’s sports sales team is in Las Vegas this week for the Sports ETA Symposium, hosted by the Sports Events and Tourism Association, April 20-23. The team has 38 appointments with National Governing Bodies and sports organizations, targeting events for future business in Omaha. Visit Omaha team members will present CHI Health Center Omaha, Levi Carter Lake, UBT and the Tranquility Park development. The annual symposium brings together rights holders, event organizers and destination marketers from across the country for educational sessions, networking events and one-on-one appointments. For Omaha, the event is an opportunity to build awareness of the city’s sports facilities, central location and track record hosting major competitions, from NCAA championships to Olympic trials. Sports tourism fills hotel rooms and drives visitor spending year-round. Visit Omaha’s team aims to identify the right events and grow them into annual fixtures for the city.
Visit Omaha Explores New Business Opportunities at Spring Event
A national sales manager represented Visit Omaha at the Connect Spring Marketplace in Louisville, Kentucky, held from April 14 to 16. The manager held approximately 35 pre-scheduled, one-on-one meetings with meeting planners. The event drew about 2,500 attendees, including roughly 800 hosted buyers — professionals who book meetings, conventions and events. Those appointments put Visit Omaha in direct competition for future business. Visitor spending supports more than 16,000 jobs in our community. Discover how Omaha is the right fit for your meeting.
Visit Omaha Shares Tourism and Hospitality Job Openings
Visitor spending supports more than 16,000 jobs in Omaha, and Visit Omaha is helping connect job seekers to those opportunities. The organization’s careers page on VisitOmaha.com features current openings at hotels, attractions and entertainment venues throughout the metro. It offers a simple way to explore jobs in an industry that plays a key role in Omaha’s economy. Positions range from entry-level roles to management jobs, giving applicants options at many experience levels. Listings are updated regularly with opportunities from businesses across the region.
Scooter’s Coffee GROW Conference Comes to Omaha
Omaha-based Scooter’s Coffee has grown from a single drive-through into a national brand with more than 900 locations. The Nebraska-born company is bringing franchisees, partners and team members back to Omaha for the Scooter's Coffee GROW Conference March 16-18. More than 1,500 attendees are gathering at CHI Health Center Omaha, creating substantial economic impact. A highlight of the event is The Scooter’s Coffee Cup, where baristas showcase their artistry and speed as they compete for the title of "Barista of the Year." The conference has secured 2,812 hotel room nights and will provide a strong midweek boost for Omaha’s hospitality sector. Sixty percent of attendees are traveling from outside the area, bringing new visitor spending to local restaurants, retailers and attractions. That’s a homecoming that perks up the whole city. Find out how you can bring your organization’s meetings to Omaha at visitomaha.com/meetings.