Kentucky Association of Conventions and Visitors Bureaus

What Kentucky Association of Conventions and Visitors Bureaus does

The Kentucky Association of Conventions and Visitors Bureaus (KACVB) is a non-profit membership association headquartered (via a P.O. Box in Martha, KY) that serves as the dedicated professional body for executive directors of convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) and tourist commissions across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Its mission is to enhance the professionalism, effectiveness, and image of Kentucky tourism commissions through communication, cooperative marketing, industry education, legislative awareness, issues management, trend identification, and professional development.

Membership is exclusive to CVBs and tourist commissions that employ a paid chief executive officer or equivalent position, and the organization currently comprises over 90 member organizations representing destination marketing organizations for counties and cities statewide. Member benefits include a ListServ communication platform, the quarterly meeting schedule, the complete members directory, a Resource Library, and minutes of past meetings. Each year, four member commissions/CVBs volunteer to host four quarterly meetings in different parts of the state, combining an educational speaker session (covering topics such as signage, auditing, tourism expenditures, and legislative issues) with a general membership meeting and a showcase of the host destination's attractions.

The revenue model is straightforward subscription/dues-based: KACVB charges an annual membership fee of $300 per organization and distributes services exclusively through direct membership enrollment, with applications submitted by mail or to the Coordinator by email. The operating model is largely volunteer-driven, governed by elected officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Past President) drawn from member CVBs, with a single paid Coordinator (Johnda Barker) handling administration. Strategic partnerships with the Kentucky Department of Travel and Tourism, the Kentucky Travel Industry Association (KTIA), and the Kentucky Restaurant Association extend the organization's reach into state-level tourism policy and adjacent hospitality verticals.

Name

Kentucky Association of Conventions and Visitors Bureaus

Legal name

Kentucky Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus

Website

https://kycvb.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

KACVB is a Kentucky-based non-profit membership association serving executive directors of over 90 convention and visitors bureaus and tourist commissions across the Commonwealth, providing quarterly statewide meetings, a ListServ, resource library, and legislative advocacy for $300 in annual dues per member organization.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tourism Industry Association

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAHACAA

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies)

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Professional Conference Organizers (PCOs) & Meeting Planners

Keywords

• Destination marketing organizations
• Convention visitors bureaus
• Tourism industry association
• Professional development
• Legislative advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Martha

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The primary revenue stream is annual membership dues of $300 per member organization. This provides access to KACVB resources including the ListServ, meeting schedules, member lists, resource library, and minutes of past meetings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

KACVB is a non-profit membership association that provides executive directors of Kentucky convention and visitors bureaus and tourist commissions with quarterly regional meetings, an industry ListServ, a resource library, member directory, meeting minutes, and advocacy/educational programming. Membership is exclusive to CVBs with a paid chief executive officer, and the primary deliverable is recurring professional development, peer networking, and legislative awareness rather than a discrete product. The organization is funded through $300 annual membership dues per member organization.

Product overview

KACVB is a membership-based non-profit association serving executive directors of convention and visitors bureaus and tourist commissions across Kentucky. The organization provides member benefits including quarterly networking meetings, educational speakers on industry topics (signage, auditing, tourism expenditures, legislative issues), a ListServ communication platform, a resource library, meeting schedules, and access to membership lists. The organization focuses on destination marketing, cooperative marketing, industry education, legislative awareness, issues management, trend identification, and professional development for tourism professionals throughout the Commonwealth.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KACVB Annual Membership Annual membership in KACVB for $300 per organization, available exclusively to executive directors of convention and visitors bureaus and tourist commissions in Kentucky with a paid chief executive officer. Provides access to all member resources, meetings, and communications.
• Quarterly Member Meetings
• Member ListServ Communications
• Member Resource Library and Meeting Minutes Archive

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kentucky Department of Travel and TourismcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial state tourism department. KACVB works in association with this organization to create a network of growth, progress, and inclusiveness for the tourism industry in Kentucky.
• Kentucky Travel Industry Association (KTIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level travel industry association. KACVB collaborates with KTIA to address common issues facing the tourism industry in Kentucky and support industry-wide initiatives.
• Kentucky Restaurant AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState restaurant industry association. Listed as a tourism partner on KACVB website, indicating collaborative relationship in promoting Kentucky's hospitality and tourism ecosystem.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• US Travel Association: The national umbrella trade organization for the U.S. travel industry. Comparable to KACVB as a membership-based advocacy and education organization, but operating nationally with much broader membership spanning suppliers, destinations, and hospitality brands.
• Kentucky Department of Travel and Tourism: Kentucky's official state tourism office and a core KACVB partner. Comparable as a tourism industry body operating in the same geography, but is a government agency rather than a private membership association.

Regional players

• Southeast Tourism Society: A regional travel industry association serving southeastern U.S. states. Comparable to KACVB as a membership-based tourism industry organization, but with multi-state regional scope rather than single-state focus.
• Travel South USA: A regional tourism promotion organization representing southern U.S. states including Kentucky. Comparable to KACVB in promoting destination tourism and convening DMO stakeholders, but operating regionally rather than within a single state.

Direct peers

• Destinations International: The national trade association for destination marketing organizations (DMOs) and convention and visitors bureaus. Directly comparable to KACVB as a membership association serving CVB/DMO professionals, but at the national rather than state level.
• Kentucky Travel Industry Association (KTIA): Kentucky's statewide travel industry trade association, listed by KACVB as a core tourism partner. Comparable as a state-level membership organization representing Kentucky tourism industry interests, though KTIA's membership is broader than just CVB executives.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kentucky Association of Conventions and Visitors Bureaus