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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) – From Chevy Corvettes to high-speed events at Motorsports Park and the Beech Bend Raceway, Bowling Green is a city that draws car enthusiasts from around the world.
Last weekend’s Tri-Five Nationals had record attendance and is expected to have three more major motorsport events in September.
The upcoming Holley LS Fest, Ford Fest and Moparty bring more than just entertainment to the bowling green.
“They’re packing up our hotels, our restaurants, shopping, and our local attractions,” said Nora Bryant of the Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitor’s Bureau. “2020 was devastating for a lot of people, especially for tourism and the hospitality industry.”
The return of these motorsport festivities is vital for the local hospitality industry. “I can’t explain how big they are,” said Michael Nunn, the general manager of the Hampton Inn Bowling Green. “Without the motorsport events in Bowling Green, we would probably have a third fewer visitors over the course of the year.”
This year most of the hotels for the Tri-Five Nationals were sold out. The Hampton recorded a visitor increase of ten percent this year compared to 2019 during this time.
“We were sold out, we were sold out for the entire event,” explained Nunn. “And almost all of the Tri-Five people were here. I mean, our parking lot looks like a car show. “
The rooms for the three events in September are already booked out.
The first one we have in September is Holley LS Fest, and that will be the weekend after Labor Day, ”said Bryant. “Then the Challenger Fest will take place on September 16 and 17. Immediately after the Challenger Fest we will be holding the Moparty from September 17th. “
The Ford Fest takes place on the last weekend in September.
“We’re excited because Moparty wasn’t even on our radar, but now it’s growing every day,” said Nunn. “We’re catching up because we think it’ll be a big event too.”
As for his hotel, Nunn said they have been ahead of 2019 for the past few months.
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