Cleo Battle, a meeting industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience and a member of MPI’s International Board of Directors, has been named president and CEO of Louisville Tourism.
Battle will succeed Karen Williams, who announced she will retire this summer after seven years leading Louisville’s destination marketing organization.
“This is my life’s work,” Battle said Friday during a press conference in Louisville. “So, it’s a great achievement to move into that role to continue the work of Karen Williams.”
Williams, who spent more than 30 years at Louisville and previously served on MPI’s board of directors, will retire on June 30.
“I would submit to you [I’ve had] the best job in the world,” she said during the press conference. “I would also submit to you that I’ve had the best team to work with and the great hospitality industry in Louisville, which is the best in the nation.”
“We know Cleo has the right combination of experience, leadership and vision to help our community maximize our opportunities.”
Williams worked in the hospitality industry for 40 years, beginning as a sales manager at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Atlanta. After opening 18 hotels worldwide, she returned to Louisville and served 23 years at what was then the Louisville CVB, retiring as executive vice president in 2012 and returning as CEO in 2014.
Williams served on boards of MPI, Leadership Louisville and Destination Marketing Association International, and was an APEX Commissioner with the Convention Industry Council. She also served as chair for the Destination & Travel Foundation.
When Williams retired in 2012, Battle succeeded her as executive vice president, and was appointed COO in 2019.
Prior to Louisville, Battle spent 12 years as vice president of sales and services for the Richmond (Va.) CVB. He began his hospitality career working for Embassy Suites, Holiday Inn and Sheraton Hotels.
A native of Denver, Battle is a graduate of Metropolitan State College and earned his master’s in business administration from Averett College in Virginia.
“In addition to being a well-respected and experienced destination executive, we are honored and humbled to have Cleo’s leadership on our International Board of Directors,” said Darren Temple, COO at MPI. “MPI has been fortunate and blessed to have an industry leader that brings the power of diversity from so many perspectives, but most importantly, diversity of thought and leadership.
“I am confident his promotion will be seen as a positive step forward for all of our communities around the globe. As a trusted member of the MPI family and board, we wish Cleo all the success in the world in his new role.”
“It would be impossible to overstate Karen Williams’ impact on the record tourism growth that Louisville has seen in recent years.”
Battle, who has been at the forefront of advocating for diversity and inclusion initiatives, both in Louisville and within the meeting and event industry, told The Meeting Professional that “ensuring we have professionals of color at the entry level and in leadership of our industry should be a priority for all of us.”
He added that Louisville Tourism recently completed a destination strategic plan and “I’m excited to execute and develop the seven priorities from the plan for Louisville.”
Battle also said he is committed to ensuring that Louisville is prepared for the return of business meetings and visitors by having health and safety protocols in place.
“Most immediate, we’ve got to get through this process with the vaccinations around the country, and then Louisville like many other destinations will be fighting for visitors and so we’ve got to position ourselves through marketing,” he said. “Our pillar museum and attractions in this city will attract visitors back here. We were a hot destination nationally and we plan to get back there shortly.”
Louisville welcomed 19 million visitors in 2019, and recently renovated the Kentucky International Convention Center.
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said: “It would be impossible to overstate Karen Williams’ impact on the record tourism growth that Louisville has seen in recent years,” and that the destination is positioned in a competitive market for the return of visitors.
“I will miss Karen for so many reasons, but I am confident in her board, the nationally recognized team they have built, and in her successor, Cleo Battle, who has worked alongside Karen for several years,” he said.
Donald Lassere, chair of the Louisville Tourism Commission, said the city has evolved as a highly sought-after convention and tourism destination.
“Working side by side with Karen for eight years, we know Cleo has the right combination of experience, leadership and vision to help our community maximize our opportunities as destinations like ours move into a recovery and rebound phase,” he said.
