Visit Omaha
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Omaha Tourism Veteran Assumes Executive Director Role at Visit Omaha
Omaha’s visitor economy has been breaking records in recent years, and a new leader at Visit Omaha plans to keep that momentum going. Jasmyn Goodwin has been appointed executive director of Visit Omaha, the city’s official tourism authority. Goodwin has grown with the organization. She started as a marketing assistant in 2007 and most recently served as vice president of marketing and communications. In that role, she led the launch of “Find Your Happy Place in Omaha,” the most recent campaign (and the third she’s launched), designed to spark connections with travelers and boost the city’s visibility. Under her leadership, Omaha has seen a 23 percent jump in visitation from key target markets in the past five years. Goodwin is known for creative, crowd-pleasing projects — from the viral Peyton Manning “Omaha, Omaha” tweet that brought national attention, to the award-winning redesign of VisitOmaha.com, to OMAI the Troll’s citywide scavenger hunt. As executive director, she will guide...
Omaha Offers Travel-Worthy Playgrounds
Omaha’s commitment to family-friendly amenities is on full display in its creative, inclusive playgrounds. From the imaginative rope forests and water features at The RiverFront’s Gene Leahy Mall and Lewis and Clark Landing to ALLPLAY’s fully accessible design at Seymour Smith Park, these spaces are investments in quality of life for residents and visitors. Nature takes center stage at Sofia’s Play Garden in Lauritzen Gardens and Acorn Acres in Fontenelle Forest, encouraging kids to explore, imagine and connect outdoors. Meanwhile, indoor options like We Rock the Spectrum, KIPP, Playful Pines and Kiewit Luminarium’s Geometry Playground ensure that the fun doesn’t stop when the weather isn’t cooperating. For developers, hospitality pros and civic leaders, these playgrounds — and so many more throughout Omaha — highlight how thoughtful design can attract families, strengthen neighborhoods and elevate Omaha’s visitor appeal. After all, a city that makes room for play is a city focused...
Celebrate Omaha’s Sweet Ice Cream Scene on National Ice Cream Day
National Ice Cream Day is Sunday, July 20. It’s the perfect excuse to explore Omaha’s growing ice cream scene. From heritage soda fountains to inventive small-batch shops, the city’s ice cream makers are building destination-worthy experiences that support local jobs, attract visitors and add character to our neighborhoods one treat at a time. Old-school favorites like Graley’s Creamery & Confections and The Durham Museum’s Soda Fountain and Candy Shop preserve the timeless joy of floats in authentic vintage settings. Ted and Wally’s is a magnet for locals and tourists alike, drawing crowds with its daily-changing roster of ultra-premium flavors. Innovation thrives in spots like Coneflower Creamery, where “farm-to-cone” partnerships with area producers turn local cream and fruit into seasonal art. eCreamery in Dundee offers creative small-batch flavors (and personalized pints for gifting), while Freezing Thai Rolled Ice Cream and Mixins turn dessert into an interactive show....
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Baby Bob Buzz
Bob’s family is growing. The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge is expecting a new addition this October. Visit Omaha shared the news in an announcement video posted on social media this year. So far, the video has been viewed nearly 1.1 million times ... that's one big baby gift. Dubbed “Baby Bob,” the extension will offer easy access to the existing 3,000-ft pedestrian bridge from the convention center, ballpark, and more points in North Downtown. Click here to view the video.
Social Media Influencers Promote Omaha
Today’s travelers want personalized experiences, and Visit Omaha is meeting the demand with a marketing campaign that speaks to the individual traveler. On VisitOmaha.com, visitors are asked: What type of traveler are you? Users can select from seven options – Family Fun, Active Adventurer, Foodie Fanatic, History Buff, Sports Fan, Art & Music Lover and Surprise Me – to access customized itineraries for planning their trip. To build on this promotion, Visit Omaha is inviting select social media influencers to Omaha in 2024. Each influencer has a following catering to one of Visit Omaha's traveler types. Three of the six influencers made their trips to Omaha, and two have shared their experiences on social media. So far, their videos have been watched 90,000 times. In addition, Visit Omaha will amplify their posts with a paid social media advertising campaign, so even more people will see them. Keep your eyes open at your restaurant, attraction, retail business, hotel or event. An...
Is Omaha the Right Fit?
The Visit Omaha sales team always finds creative ways to sell the city to convention and event planners. In May, Visit Omaha took a "supportive" role with a unique "Is Omaha the Right Fit" campaign at Meeting Professionals International’s World Education Congress, a learning and networking conference for meeting and event planners in Louisville, Ky. Partnering with an expert bra consultant, the Visit Omaha booth offered a professional bra fitting for attendees as a clever way to find out if Omaha is the right fit for their meetings. More than 200 attendees visited the booth, and after they arrived home, they received a custom bra, reminding them about Omaha and its attributes. The team continues to show there is no one-size-fits all approach to selling Omaha.
The Farnam Hotel Garners National Recognition
The Farnam Hotel, a 120-room boutique property in downtown Omaha continues to garner national attention. The hotel earned the highest guest satisfaction scores in Marriott's North America portfolio. The Farnam has also been crowned the Marriott Autograph Collection Hotel of the Year. This prestigious recognition further underscores the hotel's dedication to excellence in every aspect of its operations. Behind the scenes, the dedicated team at The Farnam Hotel has been instrumental in its success. Tiffany Guyle, the director of sales at the hotel, has been honored as the Hotel Equities Director of Sales of the Year, showcasing her outstanding leadership and unwavering commitment to driving the hotel's growth and success. Hotel Equities is a hotel ownership, management, and development firm that owns approximately 300 hotels and resorts in the United States and Canada. The Farnam Hotel also made history as the first and only hotel in Nebraska to be approved by Forbes, a significant...
Omaha Scores Big, Hosting 9,000 Attendees for Youth Basketball
Omaha welcomed more than 700 youth basketball teams – resulting in 9,000 attendees – for the NXTPRO Sports Basketball Finals from July 26-28. About 90 percent of attendees came from outside the Omaha area. NXTPRO Sports provides players, parents, coaches and recruiters with the necessary tools to elevate their basketball game for the next level. Teams played at Union Bank & Trust Sports Complex, Iowa West Field House in Council Bluffs, and other facilities in the Omaha and Lincoln areas. Athletes were on their own for meals, providing opportunities for attendees to explore the city. Visit Omaha is well positioned to continue attracting a growing number of youth and amateur sporting events thanks to the city’s rich sports hosting history and its future guaranteed by new state-of-the-art developments.
Airport Breaks Passenger Record in June
Omaha Airport Authority officials announced that for the first time, Eppley Airfield (OMA) saw more than a half a million passengers fly in and out of Omaha’s airport in a single month. A record-setting total of 514,758 passengers in June broke the previous record set the month prior. Visit Omaha statistics show Omaha hotels broke records in June as well. Not only was June the best June on record, it was the best month on record with 78 percent of all hotel rooms filled during the month. Hotel revenue also hit an all-time high with visitors spending close to $45 million on Omaha hotel rooms in June. A large contributor to June’s success is always the NCAA Men’s College World Series and the Triple Crown Slumpbusters youth baseball tournament. Despite no games played on Thursday or Friday of the 2024 Series, more people stayed in hotels this year than last year. Those hotel stays were also bolstered by the fact that a total of 732 teams traveled to Omaha for the Slumpbuster tournament,...