COLUMBUS, OH (June 2, 2026) -- Sports ETA, the leading trade association for the sports events and tourism industry, today announced that Greg Fante, President and CEO of the Louisville Sports Commission, has been named Executive of the Year. The honor was presented during the Sports ETA CE Summit today in Columbus.
While Fante was unable to attend the Summit in person, Sports ETA surprised him with the award during a special virtual presentation held in advance and shared with attendees during the general session lunch.
The Executive of the Year award recognizes an outstanding sports tourism executive who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, industry impact, and long-term contributions to their organization and community.
Since assuming the role of President and CEO in 2023, Fante has built on nearly two decades of leadership within the Louisville Sports Commission, helping position Louisville as a premier destination for national and international sporting events. Under ...
Sports ETA and Special Olympics Announce Strategic Partnership to Expand Inclusive Sports Tourism
LAS VEGAS (May 4, 2026) – Sports ETA, the trade association for the sports events and tourism industry, and Special Olympics, Inc. today announced a new multi-year strategic partnership designed to expand opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities through the power of sports tourism.
The collaboration brings together Sports ETA’s national network of more than 850 member organizations with Special Olympics, the world’s largest sports organization for individuals with intellectual disabilities, serving millions of athletes globally.
Through this partnership, Sports ETA will provide Special Olympics with research, education, and connections to destinations and event hosts across the country. The agreement also includes expanded media visibility, storytelling opportunities, and integration into key industry platforms such as the Sports ETA Sy...
More Than 1,200 Industry Leaders Gather as $274.5B Sports Tourism Economy Takes Center Stage
LAS VEGAS (April 24, 2026) – The Sports Events & Tourism Association (Sports ETA), the trade association for the sports events and tourism industry, hosted its 2026 Symposium April 20–23 at Caesars Forum, bringing together more than 1,200 industry leaders for the premier gathering of the sports tourism sector. The event featured dozens of continuing education sessions and high-impact networking opportunities.
“We are grateful to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and Caesars Entertainment for hosting and delivering a world-class experience that matched the energy and ambition of this industry,” said John David, President & CEO of Sports ETA. “This year’s Symposium signals a defining moment for the sports events and tourism industry. With stronger data, greater collaboration, and increased global interest, our industry is better posi...
Media Resources
The full 2026 State of the Industry Report and Executive Summary are available at https://bit.ly/SportsETASOTI26.
The full report is complimentary to Sports ETA members and available to media upon request. For interviews or additional information, please contact Jackie Reau.
Contact: Jackie Reau, Game Day
(513) 708-5822 | jreau@gamedaypr.com
Sports ETA Unveils 2026 State of the Industry Report, Defining a $274.5 Billion Sports Tourism Economy
Top States and National Impact Highlighted as Industry Enters Global Growth Era
LAS VEGAS (April 22, 2026) – Sports ETA, the trade association for the sports events and tourism industry, today released its 2026 State of the Industry Report, marking a defining moment for the sector with the first-ever unified analysis of both participatory and spectator sports tourism.
The report reveals that sports tourism has evolved into a $274.5 billion total economic impact industry, generating $111.2 billion...
For the first time ever, a delegation of America's premier host cities will visit Lausanne to strengthen global sports tourism partnerships
LAUSANNE, Switzerland – The U.S.-based Sports Events & Tourism Association (Sports ETA), will lead a historic visit of 16 major U.S. host destinations to meet with global sports federation leaders and event organizers in Lausanne, Switzerland from December 3-5, 2025.
This notable visit marks a significant milestone in the international engagement strategy of Sports ETA—the leading and only trade association representing the U.S. sports tourism industry—ahead of a series of global sports events coming to the United States, including the FIFA World Cup 26 and the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The delegation will connect with international sports federations and organizations headquartered in Lausanne, widely recognized as the Olympic Capital of the world.
Sports ETA President &...
CINCINNATI, OH (October 14, 2025) — The Sports Events & Tourism Association (Sports ETA), the leading association for the sports events and tourism industry, announced today the addition of Jordan Dillon and Raelyn Dessart to its Membership & Engagement team. Together, they will support Sports ETA’s mission to unite and elevate the organizations and professionals driving the sports events and tourism economy across the nation.
“I’m excited to welcome Raelyn and Jordan to our team,” said Michelle Wessels, Senior Director of Membership & Engagement at Sports ETA. “They both bring incredible passion and fresh perspectives that will help us strengthen relationships, grow our membership, and continue driving engagement and participation across our events.”
Jordan Dillon, Associate Director of Membership & Engagement, Rights Holders
Jordan Dillon brings more than 15 years of exper...
CINCINNATI (February 4, 2025) – The Sports Events & Tourism Association (Sports ETA), the trade association for the sports events and tourism industry, announced today a new partnership with Team Travel Source, a leader in tournament housing for youth sports, and software company EventPipe as the official housing technology and services providers for Sports ETA events.
Under the partnership, Team Travel Source will serve as the Housing Services Provider, managing customer service and support for Sports ETA members and event attendees. EventPipe will act as the Housing Technology Provider, supplying the platform for booking online reservations and streamlining the housing management process. Events included in the agreement are the 2025 Sports ETA Symposium in Tulsa, the 2025 4S Summit in Annapolis, MD, the 2026 Chief Executive Summit (location TBD) and the 2026 Women’s Summit in Phoenix.
“We’re excited to work with Team Travel Source and EventPipe to e...
August 29, 2024 | News Release
Hilton Named Official Hotel Partner of the Big Ten Conference
Saturday primetime football on the Big Ten Network will be presented by Hilton
CHICAGO, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference and Big Ten Network (BTN) today announced a multiyear partnership with Hilton, a leading global hospitality company, as the Official Hotel Partner of the Big Ten Conference.
Hilton will be the presenting sponsor of all Saturday primetime Big Ten football games on BTN. The Big Ten Conference will have access to discounted room rates at Hilton properties throughout the year for employees, student-athletes, and team personnel for more than 4,000 Big Ten events across the network and conference. The partnership will offer premium tickets, on-field experiences and other unique Big Ten experiences exclusively to Hilton Honors members through the Hilton Honors Experiences platform, while also partnering with the Big Ten Conference on an an...
The newest edition of the Sports ETA Playbook is out now! Take a break and check it out.
Download your copy here, and remember to share it with a colleague.
Inside This Edition
A Purposeful Path to Success
10 Tips To Start The New Year Off Right
Create Connections at the 2024 Symposium!
NEW Sports Tourism Learning Institute Course
Sports ETA #Member Win
Q&A with Andy Dolich
A Lesson in Community Hospitality:
Biggest Sports ETA Member Event Wins
And more!
VIEW PLAYBOOK
View a list of rights holders registered for the 2024 Symposium to date. Check back often as new registrations are being added daily.