Record visitation, Best of Warren County Award winners announced at CVB Annual Meeting
WARREN COUNTY, OH (March 9, 2020) – Warren County, Ohio, welcomed a record number of tourism-related visitors in 2019, the Warren County Convention & Visitors Bureau (WCCVB) announced at its annual meeting Friday.
An estimated 12,367,342 people visited the county’s numerous tourism draws last year, driving an economic impact of approximately $1.2 billion and supporting 11,666 jobs, according to a study by the State of Ohio.
Phillip S. Smith, President & CEO of the WCCVB, credits Warren County’s continued growth in the travel sector to its wealth of unique entertainment, dining, shopping and lodging offerings, as well as its convenient location.
“Roller coaster lovers, outdoor adventurers, antique collectors and travelers of all ages and interests flock to Warren County every year, and I think that speaks to our awesome variety of attractions,” Smith said. “Add to that the fact that we’re affordable and easily accessible for most, and it’s easy to see why we’ve become a go-to destination for so many.”
Among Warren County’s most visited attractions in 2019 were Caesar Creek State Park, Kings Island, the Little Miami Scenic Trail, Miami Valley Gaming, the Ohio Renaissance Festival, the Ohio Sauerkraut Festival and the Western & Southern Open.
The WCCVB projects 2020 to be another impactful year for Warren County tourism, as the industry will be fueled by a string of new attractions including Orion - Kings Island’s new “giga” roller coaster scheduled to open in April - and the Warren County Sports Park at Union Village, the only destination sports park in Southern Ohio.
Also announced at the WCCVB’s Annual Partner Meeting were the winners of its 2019 Best of Warren County Awards. The awards honored locals’ favorite Warren County tourism-related businesses from 2019 across varying categories. This year’s award process included seven new categories and garnered a record number of online ballots. The award winners were as follows:
2019 Best of Warren County Award Winners
Best New Addition – The Crate Room at Hidden Valley Orchards
Best Festival or Event – Ohio Renaissance Festival
Best Music or Theater Event – La Comedia Dinner Theatre
Best Sporting Event – Western & Southern Open
Best Date Night – Valley Vineyards Winery & Brewery
Best Fun on the Farm – Hidden Valley Orchards
Best Area to Shop – Downtown Lebanon
Best Antique Shop – A Country Peddler
Best Local Boutique – Rose & Remington
Best Signature Dish – Fried Chicken at The Golden Lamb
Best Pizza Place – Two Cities Pizza
Best Burger – Broadway Barrel House
Best Fine Dining – The Golden Lamb
Best Lunch Spot – Broadway Barrel House
Best Breakfast Spot – The Breakfast Club
Best International Eats – Mae Ploy’s Thai
Best Sweet Treat Stop – Whit’s Frozen Custard
Best Caffeine Kick – Heather’s Coffee & Café
Best Bar or Pub – Black Horse Tavern
Best Brewery – Cellar Dweller at Valley Vineyards
Best Outdoor Adventure – Caesar Creek State Park
Best Family Fun – Kings Island
Best Historic Attraction – Fort Ancient
Best Holiday Happening – Lebanon Horse-Drawn Carriage Parade
About the Warren County Convention & Visitors Bureau:
Warren County is Ohio’s Largest Playground®! With easy access from Interstates 71 and 75, visitors to Warren County can enjoy more activities within a 30-mile radius than anywhere else in Ohio. The Warren County Convention & Visitors Bureau is a professional destination marketing and management organization whose mission is to strengthen the community by advancing economic growth and vitality through tourism and overnight stays by encouraging significant participation by visitors in the local tourism economy. Tourism is the leading industry in Warren County. More than 12.3 million yearly visitors drive an economic impact of $1.2 billion and 11,666 tourism-related jobs. For additional information, visit OhiosLargestPlayground.com, call 513-204-1900 or visit the WCCVB on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram