The Omni Louisville Hotel: Proof that bowling pays off for hotels

26 April, 2018

Industry News

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When you think of Louisville, Kentucky, you might think of the Kentucky Derby and fine bourbon, or perhaps Louisville Slugger baseball bats. You might not know that bowling has contributed to the local character for decades.

“Bowling has an authentic place in Louisville’s history,” said Eamon O’Brien, Omni Louisville Hotel’s director of sales and marketing.

Omni Hotels & Resorts prides itself on bringing local color to its properties, and the new Omni Louisville is no exception. The hotel features unique amenities including Pin + Proof, a bar designed to look and feel like an old speakeasy. The centerpiece of the bar is four lanes of bowling.

“During prohibition, drinking was relegated to places like hidden bars and bowling alleys,” said O’Brien. “Since we are in Bourbon Country, we wanted to incorporate both of these features into a unique and intimate setting. Also, the Louisville Slugger factory used to make bowling pins back in the 1890s, so that’s another tie-in to our local history.”

There are also strategic reasons for a hotel to offer bowling, of course. Bowling, like other enhanced amenities, leads to higher room rates and boosts food and beverage sales.

“We will be the rate leader in this market,” said O’Brien. “While we have a number of unique offerings, the bowling alley inside our speakeasy is really special. No one else in Kentucky has anything like this.”

Pin + Proof’s menu features food from a different era, including smoked deviled eggs, fried olives, Grandma’s cheese ball, shrimp cocktail, and a relish tray. Craft cocktails include the house mint julep, a nod to the Kentucky Derby. “Having the bowling lanes at Pin + Proof definitely increases the F&B sales,” said O’Brien.

Bowling is an excellent way for hotels and resorts to attract new segments of guests. Omni’s Pin + Proof attracts local residents and a wider demographic of guests to the hotel.

“It has been the local hot spot in the hotel,” said O’Brien. “We are setting new records of business on an almost daily basis, and our weekend traffic has been phenomenal.”

Omni Hotels chose Brunswick Bowling as its bowling partner. Pin + Proof features Brunswick’s revolutionary Sync® scoring and management system, legendary GS-X™ pinsetter, Frameworx™ ball return, Anvilane™ lanes, and custom masking units.

Brunswick professionals help hotel and resort operators successfully start in and succeed at the bowling business, with assistance in everything from space design and planning through installation, training, 24/7 support, and help with marketing. Brunswick offers every major system and type of equipment needed, and it all works together reliably and seamlessly.

For more information how Brunswick can help you attract a broader demographic of local residents and hotel guests to your property, keep guests on your property longer, and increase revenue, click here.

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Herbert Bickel