Updated: 7:15 PM EST Jan 29, 2021 Kaelin Massey With the long-time leader of the Commission of Louisville Tourism set to retire this year, the group has announced a succession plan as it tries to get visitors back to the Derby City.Current President and CEO Karen Williams of the Commission of Louisville Tourism will retire June 30, after a 30-year career with the organization. The Commission has named current Chief Operating Officer Cleo Battle to head the city s tourism agency.Williams has worked for the hospitality industry for 40 years beginning as a sales manager at the Ritz -Carlton Hotel in Atlanta. After opening 18 hotels worldwide, Williams returned to Louisville and severed 23 years at what was then the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau. She retired in 2012 as Executive Vice President but shortly returned as CEO in 2014. Williams has served on several tourism industry boards, both local and international. In recognition of her diverse achieveme
January 29, 2021
Louisville Tourism is about to get a new president and CEO. Cleo Battle, the CVB’s current chief operating officer, will assume his new role upon the forthcoming retirement of current president and CEO Karen Williams, who will close out her 30-year tenure at Louisville Tourism June 30.
This is Battle’s second time filling Williams’ shoes. The 34-year hospitality veteran was appointed executive vice president in 2013 before being named COO in 2019.
Prior to coming to Louisville, Battle spent 12 years as vice president of sales and services for the Richmond Convention & Visitors Bureau in Virginia, where he also served as its director of sales and sales manager. A Denver native, he began his hospitality career in the hotel industry working for Embassy Suites, Holiday Inn and Sheraton Hotels.