A Warm Welcome: How VisitLEX Invites New Residents Into the Heart of Lexington
Learn how VisitLEX’s “Welcome to Your New Hometown” program helps immigrants and refugees feel at home — and connected — through the lens of tourism.
Welcoming Through the Lens of Tourism
When Arin Arnold-Davis stepped into her role as VisitLEX’s Director of Destination Stewardship and Community Engagement in 2024, she brought more than just professional ambition, she brought a personal passion. Inspired by her own experiences studying abroad and wishing someone had shown her the ropes in a new place, Arin envisioned a program that would give newcomers to Lexington something beyond survival tools.
“Lexington had a pretty robust resettlement program,” she explained. “One of the things we saw missing was fun.” While newcomers were given essential guidance on where their kids would attend school, how to navigate the bus system, and other essentials, the experience often lacked warmth and connection. VisitLEX wanted to take it a step further, creating moments that helped participants feel they belong and are part of what makes Lexington special.
A “Warm Hug” for New Neighbors
In partnership with Kentucky Refugee Ministries (KRM) and Global Lex, VisitLEX launched “Welcome to Your New Hometown,” a pilot program designed to immerse immigrants and refugees in the hospitality and culture of their new city. The program kicked off in summer 2025 with a group of 40 youth participants from 12 countries, visiting the Kentucky Horse Park — one of Lexington’s signature attractions — complete with transportation and a catered lunch.
“It was really cool to see some people who had never seen a horse before and some who had lived on horse farms in Syria get up close and personal with horses again,” Arnold-Davis shared. During the visit, several participants approached staff with questions about how to get a job at the park or work with horses, exactly the kind of response the program hoped to inspire. “That’s what we wanted — for people to feel like they belong here, that they are part of Lexington culture,” Arin noted.
The day also included lunch from World of Gourmet, a restaurant owned by a Palestinian refugee who went through KRM’s program 15 years ago. “It was really cool to have this real-life success story, from being resettled in Lexington to owning a successful business,” she added.
Looking Ahead
The program is currently planned for twice a year, with future events potentially expanding beyond the horse park to include other attractions and different age groups. “I hope that it opens doors for people to open businesses, thrive, and feel like they belong,” said Arnold-Davis. “I want Lexington to feel like a warm hug after a hard few years.”
For VisitLEX, the initiative emerged from recognizing the role a destination organization can play in supporting a vital and often overlooked part of the community. “We knew we weren’t the people with money or federal power,” Arnold-Davis said. “But we could connect people, tell stories, and make them feel seen.”
Through “Welcome to Your New Hometown,” VisitLEX is proving that hospitality can mean more than a visitor’s first impression — it can also be the first real welcome home.
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