Hamilton County Tourism, Inc. announced Todd Bolster as its new executive vice president of marketing & sales. With nearly two decades of experience in strategic marketing and business development, Bolster brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success to the organization.

Todd has 20 years of experience with advertising agencies, DMOs and non-profits, most recently serving as SVP at The Basement.

“Todd’s background in brand strategy, data-driven marketing and team development make him an exceptional addition to our organization,” said Hamilton County Tourism President & CEO Karen Radcliff. “We are delighted to welcome him to the team and look forward to the energy and innovation he will bring to our efforts.”

In his new role, Bolster will lead the marketing, sales and sports teams within Hamilton County Tourism, guiding strategies to elevate the county as a premier destination for meetings, events and leisure.

Todd had this to say about joining the Hamilton County Tourism team: “I’m thrilled to join Hamilton County Tourism. The county has so much momentum with new arenas, hotels, restaurants and sports teams. This is the community our family has chosen as a home and I’m excited to support it now as my career.”

Hamilton County Tourism has selected 2050 City as its strategic planning partner to develop a comprehensive roadmap for the organization's continued growth and evolution. The initiative comes on the heels of HCT's successful completion of its Vision 2025 master plan, which helped drive visitor spending from $389 million in 2015 to over $1 billion in 2024.

Led by Greg Oates, founder of 2050 City, and strategic advisor Paul Ouimet, the consulting team brings decades of experience working with tourism boards, municipal governments, and destination marketing organizations worldwide. Oates previously led development of the DestinationNEXT Futures Study, the primary visioning document and strategic planning model for Destinations International, while Ouimet has completed over 40 destination master plans across North America.

“In today’s hyper-accelerated world, if you’re not innovating quickly you’re getting left behind," said Karen Radcliff, President/CEO of Hamilton County Tourism. "A flexible, three-year strategic plan will allow us to sprint when necessary while still being guided by our long range product development BEST master plan.” 

The strategic planning process will unfold over six months, beginning with stakeholder engagement sessions throughout fall 2025. The initiative includes comprehensive interviews with elected officials, community leaders, and industry stakeholders, along with focus group sessions on specific topics. Strategic planning workshops are scheduled for November, with the final plan expected for completion by February 2026.

This new strategic planning effort reflects HCT's commitment to thoughtful, inclusive tourism development as the organization continues building on its remarkable transformation over the past decade, which included achieving 96% visitor satisfaction and 97% resident endorsement of tourism's community value.

Industry partners interested in participating in the stakeholder engagement discussions can contact Tina Rodgers, Director of Resources to learn more about upcoming input sessions.

Hamilton County saw three international sporting events come to the area this year, bringing visitors from all over the globe. Golf and a new fitness competition have been in the headlines this year, and marquee swimming is coming next. High-profile sports events continue to add value to Hamilton County, whether you’re a visitor, resident or business here.

With more than 600 miles of trails, The 106, Monon, Midland Trace, and Nickel Plate trails serve as major connectors throughout the county.

Hamilton County Tourism has launched the HamCo Hubway, the go-to source for information and inspiration around the county’s extensive trail system.

According to a recent visitor sentiment survey conducted by SMARInsights, respondents indicated a strong affinity toward trail experiences. Survey data showed that the trails’ connections to shops, food, attractions and towns were most appealing.

In response to visitor interest for packaged trail experiences, Hamilton County Tourism has collaborated with its partners to create the new trail guide. The HamCo Hubway campaign launched September 1 in Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio, Louisville, Kentucky and statewide across Indiana. The campaign runs through November 3, 2025.

The goal of this campaign is to build awareness of our trails and outdoor experiences with residents and visitors. The new HamCo Hubway guide will be available at bike shops, hotels, parks and by request online at VisitHamiltonCounty.com/Trails.

“Hamilton County is a hub of activity, and we have an incredible trail system that we all can enjoy,” said Hamilton County Tourism President & CEO Karen Radcliff. “With this new campaign and online resource, we’re excited to amplify the exceptional experiences visitors can have along our trails and make it easy to find new places to explore."

 For more information about Hamilton County’s trails and to request a trail map, go to VisitHamiltonCounty.com/Trails.