Articles

Media Contact:

Tracie McPherson
Visit Omaha
Director of Communications
402-444-3607
tmcpherson@visitomaha.com

Ten Local Residents Receive Top Honors

OMAHA, NE. May 9, 2019 – This week the community honored the more than 17,280 people who work in the local tourism industry at the Third Annual Omaha Metropolitan Area (OMA) Tourism Awards.

“A total of 92 employees and volunteers from local attractions, hotels, restaurants, and retail shops were nominated,” said Fred Uhe, tourism director for Sarpy County Tourism. “Winners were chosen in nine

Media Contact:

Tracie McPherson
Visit Omaha
Director of Communications
402-444-3607
tmcpherson@visitomaha.com

OMAHA, NE. March 26 – Visit Omaha is going to the NCAA^® Final Four^® by train...actually, two trains. As part of its 2019 “52 Weekends” advertising campaign promoting Omaha as a year-round destination, Visit Omaha once again wrapped the Minneapolis Metro Blue Line and partially wrapped the Metro Green Line with train-sized invitations to plan a weekend getaway to Omaha. In 2018, Visit Omaha wrapped one of the trains to take advantage of

Media Contact:

Tracie McPherson
Visit Omaha
Director of Communications
(402) 444-3607
tmcpherson@visitomaha.com

OMAHA, NE. March 27, 2019 – The President and CEO of Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, Dennis Pate, has been named the 2019 “Tourism Hero of the Year” by the Omaha Metropolitan area (OMA) Tourism Awards organization. Pate will be presented with the award during the Third Annual OMA Tourism Awards celebration on May 8, 11:30 AM at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, IA.

Pate was selected as this year’s “Tourism Hero” because

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium®
Offers Three New Behind-the-Scenes Experiences

Omaha, Neb. (March 15, 2019) – Registration is now open for three additional behind-the-scenes experiences at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium.

Giraffe Backstage Pass
Meet the Zoo’s herd of reticulated giraffes as you tour exclusive behind-the-scenes areas in the Syd and Betty Cate Family Giraffe Herd Rooms. This experience will be offered on the second and fourth
Tuesday beginning April through September from 1 to 2 p.m. Cost is $45 for Zoo members and

Media Contact:

Tracie McPherson
Visit Omaha
Director of Communications
402-444-3607
tmcpherson@visitomaha.com

OMAHA, NE., September 28, 2018 – Salma Hayek, Beyoncé, Jimmy Fallon, Will Smith and Bob T. Bridge, (aka Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge) are all bing names celebrating birthdays this month. On Friday, September 2018, 2018, Bob is celebrating a milestone birthday by turning 10 years old – not sure how that equates to human years.

"I don't feel a day over nine," says Bob, "It's easy to stay young when all you do is hang around all day by

Media Contact:

Tracie McPherson
Visit Omaha
Director of Communications
402-444-3607
tmcpherson@visitomaha.com

Dine Out to Help Others during Omaha Restaurant Week

OMAHA, NE., September 12, 2018 – Get ready to eat out for a good cause. Omaha Restaurant Week starts this Friday, September 14th and runs through the 23rd. Every time you have dinner at a participating restaurant and order from the Omaha Restaurant Week menu, you will be supporting the Food Bank for the Heartland.

“This is Visit Omaha’s second year organizing Restaurant Week. Our

Media Contact:

Tracie McPherson
Visit Omaha
Director of Communications
402-444-3607
tmcpherson@visitomaha.com

Omaha's Old Market Experience is a Big Hit in Chicago

OMAHA, NE., August 29, 2018 – Visit Omaha proves that the Old Market can attract a crowd – even in Chicago. The city's official tourism authority took a re-creation of the Old Market Entertainment District to one of the largest tradeshows in the tourism industry and received top honors.

“Winning an award on the tradeshow floor amplifies our city's messaging in front of convention

Media Contact:

Tracie McPherson
Visit Omaha
Director of Communications
402-444-3607
tmcpherson@visitomaha.com

Visit Omaha Announces New Staff

OMAHA, NE., August 15, 2018 – Visit Omaha is pleased to announce the hiring of three new staff members. Jessica Weishahn is the new Tourism Sales Manager, Lindsey Holmes was recently named as the new National Sales representative, and Melanie Hegwood has joined the Visit Omaha Team as the new Convention Services and Housing Manager. Anabella Coenan has been promoted to Sales and Marketing Coordinator.

Media Contact:

Tracie McPherson
Visit Omaha
Director of Communications
402-444-3607
tmcpherson@visitomaha.com

$290 Million Transformation

OMAHA, NE., June 14, 2018 – “World class,” “game-changer” and “transformational” are the words used when describing Omaha’s new plan to invest $290 million in its downtown convention district along the city’s riverfront. The new development will connect the convention district, downtown Omaha and the riverfront.

“The plan to transform Omaha’s riverfront provides an open canvas for meeting organizers to

Media Contact:

Tracie McPherson
Visit Omaha
Director of Communications
402-444-3607
tmcpherson@visitomaha.com

Local Employees Grab the Spotlight During National Tourism Week

OMAHA, NE., May 10, 2018 – More than 18,000 employees work in the tourism industry in the Omaha metropolitan area. This week the best of the best were honored for their outstanding contribution to the industry during the Second Annual Omaha Metropolitan Area (OMA) Tourism Awards celebration.

"A total of 68 employees and volunteers from local attractions, hotels,